102nd Rose Bowl
No member of the Stanford football team gets more joy playing the game than Aziz Shittu. The 6-foot-3, 279-pound senior defensive end from Atwater (Calif.) is an imposing figure in uniform but a kid at heart.

On "Behind the Headlines," film critic Peter Canavese of the Palo Alto Weekly and Groucho Reviews joins Weekly reporter Gennady Sheyner to revisit the highs, the lows and other notable cinematic moments.

A convenience store in East Palo Alto was robbed at gunpoint on Christmas morning, according to police.

Prep basketball
An expanded tournament and a brand new basketball event made for a lot of local happy girls on Wednesday. At the same time, the Menlo-Atherton boys came away with a title, as well, as 2015 came to a championship close for five squads.

Madison Michelis hit one of two free throws with 26 seconds remaining to snap a tie and help lead the Menlo College women's basketball team to a 69-67 victory over visiting Cal Maritime as part of the Peninsula Classic on Wednesday.

Top 20 projects in 2015
In 2015, numerous developments got underway or were completed throughout the city, altering the look and feel of where we live and work, and in some cases, enhancing safety and walkability. Here's the Weekly's curated list of the top 20 projects.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District offers Jan. 1 excursion
Join docents from the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for a New Year's Day group hike at Monte Bello Preserve, located in the hills above Palo Alto.

Party 'til the wee hours with DJ EZ & BENOFFICIAL
Over at Mountain View's Opal Nightclub, the last night of the year will go down in high style at 'The Gatsby Experience.'

College basketball
First, it was the loss of projected starting point guard Robert Cartwright for the season following a freak injury during practice. Then, Marcus Allen and big man Grant Verhoeven both missed the season opener and Reid Travis has missed the past three games because of an injury.

102nd Rose Bowl
Kevin Hogan may not be the first quarterback taken in the NFL draft in late April, though if leadership and winning are of any importance, he'd have a star hanging by his name.

The best, the worst and the most memorable movies of 2015
Palo Alto Weekly film critic Peter Canavese looks back over the year in movies to revisit the highest highs, the lowest lows and other notable cinematic moments.

Residential, commercial fixes
In these 55 Palo Alto building permits, residents add car chargers and remodel kitchens and bathrooms, as businesses, such as Lytton Gardens, upgrade electrical systems and make gas leak repairs.

Enjoy a veggie dinner, stroll through the neighborhood, learn about bees and receive sandbag assistance
This week includes a Monday night vegetarian dinner, a guided tree walk through the Barron Park neighborhood, a beekeeping course and sandbag installation assistance.

Creating a beautiful bookcase
Why not transform your bookshelf from an overstuffed eyesore into an integral part of your decor?

2015 was a year of successful citizen activism
Citizens united over Palo Alto issues affecting their quality of life in 2015, holding federal authorities, City Hall and developers accountable for problems that included airplane noise, groundwater pumping, leaf blowers, traffic, Airbnb rentals and the failure to retain a grocer at Edgewood Plaza Shopping Center.

Difficult start to the year gives way to soul-searching, new visions for Palo Alto school district
2015 in the Palo Alto Unified School District was, indelibly, a year of immense loss but also one of significant change and growth.

City Council sets aside its differences to take on a greater force: the free market
Once divided, city officials set their differences aside this year to take on a greater force: the free market

102nd Rose Bowl
Receivers Devon Cajuste and Michael Rector provide the explosive elements to Stanford's passing attack and quarterback Kevin Hogan is the one who gets them the ball. Together, they've helped lead Stanford to its third Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl Game appearance in four years.

Some fares for SamTrans paratransit bus service are changing in the new year. Paratransit riders can expect to see an increase in one-way trip rates from $3.75 to $4.25 starting Friday.

Spiritual community holds New Year's Eve service
Through discussion, chanting, meditation and a fire ceremony, attendees of the New Year's Eve Service at Ananda will be encouraged to "release the energy of the past" and embrace the future.

Quattro offers a prix fixe menu for New Year's Eve
If fine dining's your thing, consider splurging on a New Year's Eve meal at Quattro, the upscale Italian restaurant with California flair located at the Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto.

The China Cats come to Redwood City
The year may be nearly dead, but the Dead live on! Join Grateful Dead cover band the China Cats at Redwood City's Club Fox for a night of Dead-style jamming and feel-good vibes.

Prep basketball
The Menlo-Atherton and Sacred Heart Prep girls opened the Eastside Prep Coaches vs. Cancer Classic by facing each other on Monday. The Bears won, sending the teams in opposite directions in the No. 2 Competitive Bracket.

Santa Clara County District Attorney and Palo Alto Police Department investigate whether Dec. 25 shooting of William David Raff was justified
When two Palo Alto police officers shot and killed William David Raff outside a Forest Avenue home on Christmas evening, they instantly triggered speculation among the victim's family, friends and the broader community about whether the shooting was just -- and justified.

Police department names officers involved in fatal shooting of William David Raff
When three Palo Alto police officers arrived at the front lawn of a home at 652 Forest Ave. in the waning hours of Christmas night, they reportedly saw a man emerge from the shadows, brandishing a metal knife and jumping around in an erratic manner.

102nd Rose Bowl
As the elder statesman of the Stanford defensive secondary, fifth-year senior cornerback Ronnie Harris didn't feel extra pressure this season. On the contrary, the lone returning starter was excited about the unit's potential.

Program airs Dec. 30 on PBS
On Dec. 30, just in time for all those New Year's resolutions about eating healthier and more sanely, a documentary by Menlo Park filmmakers Michael Schwarz and Kiki Kapany about Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" will air on KQED.

102nd Rose Bowl
The Stanford football team participated in one of the Rose Bowl's oldest -- and perhaps tastiest -- traditions Monday evening when it took part in the 60th annual Lawry's Beef Bowl.

Hot construction market means higher costs for new public safety building, bike bridge
The past year has been kind to Palo Alto's economy, with real estate values soaring, hotel revenues booming, and the city's budget carrying a healthy surplus. But the silver cloud comes with a dark lining: As the economy heats up, so does the construction climate  a trend that has brought rising costs and fresh uncertainty for the city's major infrastructure projects.

A look back at the food news of 2015
Peninsula Foodist blogger Elena Kadvany takes a look back at the notable restaurant openings, closings and other food news of 2015.

Many questions, few answers in death of Palo Alto man with severe mental illness, father says
The father of William David Raff, the man fatally shot by Palo Alto police on Christmas night, said his only child had a long history of mental illness. But he called his son's death "an unjust shooting."

102nd Rose Bowl
Remound Wright, Barry Sanders and Christian McCaffrey knew they were on the verge of something special. After outstanding spring and fall practices, the Stanford running backs were excited to put their hard off-season work to the test and rejuvenate a ground-and-pound attack that helped carry the Cardinal year after year.

Prep basketball
The expanded Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Eastside Prep had quite an impressive basketball lineup heading into the Christmas break. That, however, was before a devastating hurricane hit Texas -- resulting in at least 11 fatalities.

102nd Rose Bowl
Stanford left tackle Kyle Murphy lingered for a moment after a recent practice as left guard Joshua Garnett walked behind him toward the locker room. "Best tackle in college football!" Garnett yelled. "All-American, right there!" Murphy responded. It's no surprise, then, that Stanford is 11-2 this season.

102nd Rose Bowl
Stanford linebackers Kevin Anderson and Peter Kalambayi have alter egos, according to their teammates. Both mirror characters in the movie, "Remember the Titans."

102nd Rose Bowl
While the Stanford football team got down to business on Sunday with its first practice in Pasadena for the 102nd Rose Bowl Game, Stanford defensive coordinator Lance Anderson was joined Aziz Shittu, Blake Martinez, Ronnie Harris, Brennan Scarlett and Kevin Anderson at the Rose Bowl's defensive press conference.

Albert Bandura and Stanley Falkow of Stanford University among those being honored
President Obama honored four Bay Area scientists this year with the country's highest scientific honor, according to the National Science Foundation.

102nd Rose Bowl
Preparations are already under way for this Friday's annual Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, with Stanford facing Iowa. Here's a look at what the Cardinal is doing leading up to the New Year's Day clash.

Stanford sophomore Dorian Pickens scored 18 points, one of four players to reach double figures, and the Stanford men's basketball team downed visiting NAIA Carroll College, 83-38, Sunday in the final nonconference game of the season.

Cardinal corner
The Stanford men's basketball team closes out both the calendar year and nonconference play on Sunday with a game against Carroll College in Maples Pavilion at 6 p.m.

William David Raff, 31, gunned down after allegedly charging police officers with knifeUpdate: The man who was fatally shot by police officers in Palo Alto on Friday, Dec. 25, was identified Monday as 31-year-old William David Raff. Momentum For Mental Health also released a statement in response to the shooting of Raff, a client through its La Selva housing program.

A look back at the food news of 2015
Peninsula Foodist blogger Elena Kadvany takes a look back at the notable restaurant openings, closings and other food news of 2015.

Ring in 2016 with a pop, a bang or quiet contemplation
It's time to say goodbye to 2015 and usher in the New Year. From contemplative services to late-night parties, the Midpeninsula offers a range of events to help you honor the start of 2016.

City Council looks to add teeth, clarity to fledgling program
Palo Alto's new business-registry program rolled off to a rocky start in March, with meager participation and widespread confusion about various questions on the city's registration survey. While the program has seen a significant turnaround at the end of the year, city officials are planning to make some revisions next year to boost participation even further.

Gary Cavalli, Executive Director of the Foster Farms Bowl and a veteran of more than 40 years in college and professional sports administration in the Bay Area, will call it a career this weekend following the Foster Farms Bowl showdown between UCLA and Nebraska.

Of local note
Gunn High grad Graham Fisher finished out his senior football season at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, in a big way. For the second consecutive year, he was named to the All-Midwest Conference first team.

Shop at The Main Gallery's holiday gift market, buy local produce at the farmers market, gain sewing knowledge, practice rose trimming techniques and learn about winter gardening
This week includes a holiday art market, the California Avenue Farmers' Market, a sewing clinic, a rose trimming lesson and an eight-week winter gardening course.

Without a senior starter for the first time in 13 years, the No. 12 Stanford's women's basketball team needed to look elsewhere for leadership. The past four games, including the Cardinal's 83-41 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday, featured an all-junior starting lineup.

Same street sales in Mountain View
Two sales took place on North Whisman Road this week. Learn about these home sales and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Menlo girls win title
The holiday break is most often spent with family and friends. Schools are out, relatives are in town and there is plenty of eating, drinking and relaxing -- unless you happen to be a basketball player.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Dec. 28.

Six of the 34 sales in Palo Alto
This week, Palo Alto saw six homes sales, including the top sale of $7,600,000. Read the rest of the real estate numbers to see how other Palo Alto-area locations compared.

Residents asked to recycle, reuse holiday decor
Now that Christmas is here, the next thing for residents to consider is what to do with their trees and holiday decor.

Amit Goutam Bagchi, 41, died after being hit by SUV in Menlo Park
A memorial service is set for Thursday, Dec. 24, for a Palo Alto man who was struck and killed by an SUV on Saturday, Dec. 19, in Menlo Park, according to his family.

The best images from the past 12 months
As I looked back over our coverage of the events that unfolded in 2015, it became apparent that this was a year filled with reflection, solidarity and awareness.

Family Connections receives funds to support its Kindergarten Readiness program in East Palo Alto
Family Connections is a nonprofit that provides low-income kids with early-learning programs that allow them to enter kindergarten and higher grades at skill levels equivalent to or above their peers'.

Prep basketball
The Menlo School girls will play for the championship of the Steve Geramoni Old School Basketball Tournament following a solid 54-38 victory over Moreau Catholic in the semifinals Tuesday at Notre Dame-Belmont.

Seeking to increase diversion from landfills, city looks to pass new ordinance in 2016
Making rules for waste disposal can be a messy business in Palo Alto, as the City Council learned last month when it pondered a new law that would require all local businesses to recycle and compost.

Erica McCall scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season and the 10th of her career, to lead the Stanford women's basketball team past visiting Cal State Bakersfield, 83-41, in a nonconference game Tuesday.

Palo Alto officials put off decision on parking structure until early 2016
Palo Alto officials often liken the city's strategy for dealing with the city's parking crisis to a three-legged stool: reduce the demand for driving, make better use of parking structures and increase the supply of garages.

Stanford sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey did not win the Heisman Trophy this year, but he did receive an honor on Tuesday that was nearly as prestigious when he was named The Associated Press College Football Player of the Year.

Five-year-old Ivan Priimak undergoes surgery at California Ear Institute in East Palo Alto
Rimma Krivtsova and her 5-year-old son Ivan "Vanya" Priimak who was born without two fully-formed ears, traveled to California from Russia for an ear reconstruction surgery at the California Ear Institute in East Palo Alto.

Former journalist, Stanford English language learner expert to join district office
Two key hires will begin work in the Palo Alto school district in 2016: a new spokesperson, and an equity coordinator who will oversee the district's efforts to better support historically underrepresented students and families.

Parts of Bay Area got 5 inches of rain since Sunday
A storm system that has brought more than 5 inches of badly needed rain to parts of the Bay Area since Sunday is on its way out Tuesday, but another one is right behind it, a National Weather Service forecaster said.

With junior Sam Erisman pouring in 23 points, the Menlo School girls jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 61-41 victory over Lincoln (SF) in the opening round of the Steve Geremoni Old School Basketball Tournament on Monday at Notre Dame-Belmont

City signs new agreement with Santa Clara for services at Levi's Stadium
When the 2016 Super Bowl kicks off in Santa Clara on Feb. 7, the crowd of spectators at Levi's Stadium will likely include a few Palo Alto police officers. Unlike in the past, they won't be difficult to spot.

Peter Ohtaki seeks District 24 seat held by Rich Gordon
Menlo Park Councilman Peter Ohtaki has announced plans to run in 2016 for the District 24 California Assembly seat currently held by Rich Gordon.

Planning ahead can take the trauma out of travel
Sure, in the olden days, just getting to grandpa's house was an adventure. These days, whether traveling long distances by car or by plane, it can be less of an adventure and more of a royal pain  unless you're prepared.

Dorian Pickens followed his career best with a 20-point effort and Stanford's men's basketball team returned to the win column, beating visiting Sacramento State, 70-60, on Monday night.

Colleagues remember Kathleen Meagher as a supportive, inclusive, 'unflappable'
Kathleen Meagher, a former teacher and administrator in the Palo Alto school district, died on Tuesday, Dec. 15, in a scuba diving accident while on vacation in the Caribbean, her mother confirmed Monday.

Ecumenical Hunger Program provides food and services to low-income and homeless people in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park
East Palo Alto's Ecumenical Hunger Program is asking for emergency donations of toys and gifts because their supplies are desperately low, according to the agency's resource coordinator.

Palo Alto garbage collection moves to following day
Here is a list of local and regional service closures and changes for Christmas Day.

Three Stanford men's soccer players were recognized when TopDrawerSoccer (TDS) unveiled its Best XI teams on Monday morning. Junior forward Jordan Morris was named the 2015 TopDrawerSoccer Division I Men's Soccer Player of the Year.

Cardinal corner
Stanford junior guard Lili Thompson was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for games played from December 14 to 20 the conference announced Monday.

Weekend prep roundup
The Palo Alto boys headed into the championship soccer match of the Oak Grove Tournament on Saturday without starting keeper Eli Friedlander, who was sidelined by injured. On the line was the Vikings' five-match win streak to start the season.

Islamic Society of North America offices to spearhead interfaith efforts
For the estimated 250,000 Muslims living in the Bay Area, these are the times when faith is put to the test.

USA water polo
Stanford grad Kiley Neushul scored five goals, including the game-winner in a shootout, to help the U.S. Women's National Team beat Spain, 14-13, and capture the Holiday Cup water polo title in Newport Beach on Sunday.

Jim Wilson reached the championship finals at 165 pounds and Stanford had three others place among the top four at the Reno Tournament of Champions on Sunday. The Cardinal placed third at the wrestling tournament.

Dorian Pickens stepped up when it became obvious a teammate had fallen. Sophomore forward Reid Travis sustained a stress reaction, which was discovered after undergoing an MRI when he complained of soreness in his left leg.

For the second time in three seasons, Sacred Heart Prep reached the state championship football game. Unfortunately for the Gators, they also came up short for the second time as Rancho Bernardo handed SHP a 35-14 loss in the CIF Division III-A state championship game at Rancho Bernardo on Saturday.

Erica McCall and Alanna Smith each scored 12 points and Kaylee Johnson recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds as the 15th-ranked Stanford women's basketball team downed visiting Cornell, 93-38, in a nonconference game Saturday in Maples Pavilion.

Private-security officer intervened in attempt, called police
An East Palo Alto man who police said was trying to break into a car in Palo Alto's Crescent Park neighborhood early Wednesday morning was arrested after a private-security officer spotted and stopped the attempt.

A 41-year-old Palo Alto man who was jogging was struck and killed Saturday morning by a Chevy Tahoe SUV at the intersection of Sand Hill Road and Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park, police report.

Friday's prep roundup
The Gunn boys will head into the new year and SCVAL De Anza Division season with a perfect basketball record after capturing the championship game of the Panther Invitational for the second straight season on Friday night.

The state's unemployment rate decreased last month, according to data released Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

Stanford grad Kiley Neushul scored five goals to lead the United States women's national water polo team to a 12-10 victory over Italy in the Holiday Cup at Corona Del Mar High in Newport Beach on Friday night.

City Council approves design contract for replacement of Fire Station 3
The small wood-framed fire station known as Station 3 made its debut in 1948, the year of the Marshall Plan, Gandhi's assassination, and Dewey's famous non-defeat of Truman for the American presidency. Now, the small and seismically deficient station is about to undergo a long-awaited renovation.

Palo Alto City Manager James Keene said Kathryn Shen's resignation was reached by mutual decision
The recent resignation of Kathryn Shen from her position as director of the city's Human Resources Department was prompted by the department's "changing needs" and reached by a mutual decision between Shen and City Manager James Keene, according to Keene.

Test phase is being proposed for 17-mile stretch running from Palo Alto to San Jose
A controversial proposal to create dedicated bus lanes along El Camino Real gained a major boost Wednesday when a committee of city representatives along the route signaled a willingness to try out the idea as a pilot program.

Redshirt junior Jim Wilson, ranked fifth nationally, turned in a dominating, 10-1, major decision at 165 pounds but the Stanford wrestling team dropped a 22-16 decision to visiting Cal State Bakersfield in a Pac-12 Conference meet Thursday.

City's Rail Committee drafts letter calling for more inclusive process in designing Peninsula segment of rail system
High-speed rail is still more than a decade away from making its first run through the Peninsula, but the controversial project is stirring fresh concerns in Palo Alto, where City Council members are calling for a slower and more inclusive design process.

Stanford senior guard Joshua Garnett intended to enjoy his time in Atlanta, where he received the Outland Award as the nation's top offensive lineman. It was better than he anticipated.

A $564,000 difference
What a difference 45 years makes. This is especially true for a home sale in East Palo Alto. The property was last purchased in 1970 for $6,000; in November, it sold for $570,000. That's a $564,000 difference.

Most high school football players never have a chance to play for a state championship. For those who do, it's often a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For Mason Randall and his Sacred Heart Prep teammates, they get a second chance in three seasons for a shot at redemption.

A lot happening in one place
When the published building permits for the week tally up to four, it's easy to really scan them all. At first glance, one notices that three are all at the same location: 510 Seale Ave.

Local business owner gives advice on creating a stress-free holiday celebration
A local business owner and frequent party hostess shares her tips for throwing a holiday party, one of which is "keeping it simple."

Take a hike to escape the holiday chaos
Whether you love the holidays or find them taxing, it's a great time of year to take a pause from all the shopping and parties to reconnect with nature.

Purchase Gamble Garden's new cookbook, shop at The Main Gallery's holiday gift market, care for area trees, borrow a sewing machine and discover farm life
This week includes a chance to purchase Gamble Garden's new cookbook, a holiday art market, a tree care volunteer opportunity, the availability of sewing machines and an adventure on the farm.

Fence disputes and good neighbor fences
We have all heard the expression, "Good fences make good neighbors." Nevertheless, there are countless bitter disputes between neighbors over the location, construction and maintenance of fences. Under the Fence Act, the California Legislature laid out specific rules regarding notice, construction and maintenance of fences constructed on property lines.

From senior centers to neighborhood toy giveaways, nonprofits seek help during the holidays
For some Palo Alto residents, the greatest gift they'll receive this holiday season is the gift they'll give. Here are a few opportunities this season give of one's time and resources.

High school radio station provides platform for student discussion, music
Two years ago, Palo Alto High School students launched a humble radio station with a smattering of talk radio programs. Today, Paly Radio is a fully-fledged academic course as well as a 24/7 Internet radio station that features school and local news, podcasts and entertainment programs as well as a wide array of music.

Cardinal corner
Andi Sullivan was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Postseason Best XI First Team and five Stanford players earned Freshman Best XI honors.

Local families take holiday festivities outdoors to create special memories
Although snowy white winters are not typical in the Bay Area, local families have taken advantage of the Peninsula's sunny holiday season by heading outdoors to create their own winter traditions  spanning from train rides in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains to exploring the beaches of Half Moon Bay.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Dec. 21.

Planning ahead can take the trauma out of travel
Sure, in the olden days, just getting to grandpa's house was an adventure. These days, whether traveling long distances by car or by plane, it can be less of an adventure and more of a royal pain  unless you're prepared.

Grupo Palo Alto achieves success with 'brief therapy' but faces financially shaky future
Karin Schlanger is the director of Grupo Palo Alto, a small nonprofit that provides "brief therapy" -- a model that focuses on solving problems and changing behavior rather than long-term psychological work -- to students in East Palo Alto's public schools.

Freshman Marta Sniezek played a season-high 29 minutes, scored a season-best nine points, matched her season best in assists with four and managed a counterattack as the Stanford women's basketball team beat visiting No. 14 Tennessee, 69-55, Wednesday in a nonconference game.

Ravenswood City School District Superintendent cancels classes while gas-leak repairs continue
Ravenswood City School District Superintendent Gloria Hernandez-Goff announced on Wednesday that Costaño Elementary School in East Palo Alto, which has been without heat since early December due to a gas leak, would have to close early for winter break due to dropping temperatures.

Wet weather is coming to the Bay Area starting Friday and it should last through much of next week, a National Weather Service forecaster said.

As proposal to redevelop site around Equinox dies, another mixed-use proposal at nearby Palo Alto site advances
When Palo Alto officials approved in 2013 a block-long development on El Camino Real featuring 48 apartments, retail and office spaces, they hailed the project as a rare example of a "true mixed-use" project. Two years later, one of the largest commercial projects to win approval in Palo Alto in recent years appears to be dead.

Palo Alto reviews new plans for 1601 California Ave. after trichloroethylene is found in soil
A discovery of toxic vapors in the middle of a construction site has prompted Stanford University to redesign portions of its new faculty-housing development on California Avenue.

The Stanford women's volleyball team had four players recognized when the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced its All-America selections Wednesday, including rookie Hayley Hodson earning AVCA Freshman of the Year accolades.

East Palo Alto man among those suspected of burglarizing home
Three suspects were arrested Tuesday in connection with a residential burglary in Redwood City that briefly prompted a shelter-in-place order for neighbors, police said.

Melanie Wade was able to help the Palo Alto High volleyball team win a pair of state championships during her prep days, but she couldn't get the University of Washington women into the NCAA Final Four last weekend as the Huskies saw their season end at the Elite Eight in Lexington, Ky.

More than 35,000 additional students are expected to apply by Jan. 3
Stanford University has sent acceptance letters to 745 early applicants for the class of 2020, the university announced Dec. 11.

Senior offensive guard Joshua Garnett and sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey of the Pac-12 champion Stanford football team received more national recognition Wednesday as the pair received American Football Coaches Association All-America first-team nods.

Mothers advocate for unit to be combined with full-service medical facility
After about six months of staff research and community input on the dearth of inpatient psychiatric beds for adolescents in Santa Clara County, Supervisor Joe Simitian and county staff indicated at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting that they hope to bring beds to the county by June 2016.

Cross country
The USATF Club Cross Country National Championships on Saturday were nothing short of stunning, with an idyllic backdrop and stacked fields in every race as national championship contenders took to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco to see who reigned supreme.

Gunn senior Gillian Meeks, Palo Alto junior Kent Slaney and Menlo School sophomore Robert Miranda all ran to first-team honors on the 2015 All-Central Coast Section cross country teams, released this week.

City Council agrees to halt negotiations with Moffatt & Nichol; request new bids for Adobe Creek structure
Frustrated by rising costs and engineering uncertainties, Palo Alto officials agreed early Tuesday morning to relaunch the design process for what they still hope will be a showpiece bike bridge over U.S. Highway 101.

Community feel in a 'nerdy' area of Mountain View
On Friday nights, Steve Bell calls in to place an order at Mario's Italiano. Right away, he is asked if he wants the usual, and he replies, "Yes, that would be great."

Week 14
Former Stanford wide receiver Doug Baldwin has really blossomed in his fifth season with the Seattle Seahawks. In last weekend's 35-6 win over host Baltimore, Baldwin was the Seahawks' most-targeted receiver (nine) while hauling in six catches for 82 yards and three touchdowns.

Easy of commute draws residents to 'where the future is invented'
In the 1970s, George Markle came to Mountain View for a job ā" a similar story for many today. He originally chose Moffett Boulevard, and specifically Cypress Point Lakes because of the ease of commute.

Residents enjoy community, proximity to markets
It's bordered by California Street and Showers Drive and nestled next to the San Antonio Caltrain station, which is just one of the reasons residents of the Greater San Antonio community say it is a desirable area for home buyers.

Residents stay connected through email, events
Not a week has gone by in which Dutch Haven resident Rohit Sawhney hasn't used the local YMCA or the Stevens Creek Trail. Having these recreational opportunities nearby appealed to Sawhney and his family as they sought a new home in 2005.

A place without 'cookie-cutter' homes
Once an unincorporated part of the county, the Martens-Carmelita neighborhood is one of the only neighborhoods in Mountain View where families can find a particular amalgamation of a near pin-drop quiet noise level, a hodgepodge of cottages, midcentury moderns and two-story homes partitioned by tall hedges and ranch-inspired fences, tiny cul-de-sacs, large lot sizes and only half a street's worth of sidewalks.

Longtime residents enjoy landscape, community
Those living under the red-tiled roofs with tailored green landscapes appear content in the community Irv Statler calls his "Camelot." Statler and his wife, Renee have lived in the Cuernavaca neighborhood for about 30 years.

Area offers approachable real estate, access to other communities
A graceful canopy of trees lines Fremont Avenue, the near-center line of quiet South Los Altos. Bounded by Cupertino, Mountain View and Sunnyvale, and flanked by Highway 85 and Foothill Expressway, South Los Altos offers more approachable real estate with easy access to nearby communities.

ALL-PAL BAY DIVISIONOffensive Player of the Year: Leipeli Palu (Burlingame) Sr.Defensive Player of the Year: Bryce Rodgers (Menlo-Atherton) Sr.Utility Player of the Year: Devin Grant (Aragon) Sr.Special Teams Player of the Year: Jordan Mims (Menlo-Atherton) Jr.Co-Coaches of the Year: Adhir Ravipati (Menlo-Atherton), John Philipopolous (Burlingame)

Incident occurred near Greer Park in south Palo Alto
Palo Alto police are searching for a man who allegedly followed a 12-year-old girl to her home and kissed her cheek Monday night.

Palo Alto council approves annexation of new blocks, cap on worker permits
With Palo Alto's parking congestion now spreading from the heart of downtown to surrounding neighborhoods, city officials agreed on Monday night to expand the city's fledgling parking-permit zone and to set a cap on the number of permits being sold to area employees.

Cardinal corner
Those hoping to obtain tickets for the 102nd Rose Bowl through Stanford Athletics are out of luck as the school has sold out its ticket allotment -- a total of 30,000 -- for the game with Iowa on Jan. 1 in Pasadena.

Palo Alto City Council supports three-story design for new public-safety building
Two city-owned parking lots on Sherman Avenue would make way for Palo Alto's new police headquarters, a parking structure and possibly a tiny park under a proposal that the City Council embraced Monday night.

Three Menlo School student-athletes -- Payton Mack, Nikky Price and Polly Finch -- will continue their studies and athletics after signing with NCAA Division I teams recently.

Palo Alto's Muslim Eid Festival to bring all faiths, cultures together for community, sharing
With political fear-mongering on the rise since the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, members of the Palo Alto Muslim community are reaching out to their neighbors with messages of tolerance, understanding and peace.

Formally known as Loyola, the area was nearly the site of Santa Clara University; the 1906 earthquake derailed the plan, giving way to the golf course and home development.

The men and women from Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics have won national swim titles before. But, the 2015 Speedo Short Course Junior Nationals (West) provided something new for PASA this past week in Austin, Texas.

Residents enjoy quiet, friendly neighborhood
Much like the fruit trees that formerly occupied the neighborhood's land, Palo Alto Orchards has had a life cycle of its own, transforming from a a post-war tract with young veterans to a well-loved spot for young families to live.

Landlocked on three sides with three cul-de-sacs jutting out of Miranda Avenue, the neighborhood known as Greater Miranda is isolated in ways that many other neighborhoods in Palo Alto are not.
The neighborhood has consisted of 55 homes since the 1960s.

Monitoring period is probable, superintendent says
Legal findings against the Palo Alto school district look to be on the way in two sexual-harassment investigations at the district's high schools by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, Superintendent Max McGee disclosed in a regular update to the board on Friday.

Sparked by two brilliant goals by Jordan Morris, Stanford earned its first national championship in more than 100 years of men's soccer on Sunday with a 4-0 victory over Clemson in Kansas City, Kan.

Weekend prep roundup
With tournament MVP Riley Hemm leading the way with 14 points, the Sacred Heart Prep girls made it a clean sweep in the King's Academy Winter Classic by topping the host team, 49-36, in the championship game Saturday night in Sunnyvale.

Winds expected to be strongest near the coast and in the hills
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area in effect through Sunday night.

Undefeated McClymonds made it to the Division III-A regional bowl game on the strength of its defense, having allowed just 20 points total in its last seven games. Sacred Heart Prep exceeded that total in the first quarter on Saturday's NorCal regional playoff contest.

Stanford grad Mark Appel was part of a trade Saturday that sent closer Ken Giles to the Houston Astros from the Philadelphia Phillies. Appel, the top overall draft pick in 2013, went 16-11 with a 5.12 ERA in two minor league seasons. He's leaving a team that remained in contention for a division title throughout last season.

Rosco Allen scored 17 points, Reid Travis added 14 points and the Stanford men's basketball team made a triumphant return from a two-week break, beating Dartmouth, 64-50, in a nonconference game Saturday night.

Stanford sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey joined John Elway, Toby Gerhart and Andrew Luck as Heisman Award runnerups Saturday when he finished second in the voting to Alabama running back Derrick Henry in a televised announcement in New York.

Current Sacred Heart Prep senior Tierna Davidson already knows what she'll be doing next November during her freshman year at Stanford University. She'll be playing soccer.

The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner won't be announced until today at 5 p.m. on ESPN, but former USC running back Reggie Bush, who earned college football's highest individual honor in 2005, thinks the award should go to Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey.

A marathon day of tense, dramatic NCAA men's soccer action in Kansas City on Friday ended without a goal scored in regulation play, though the two survivors, including seventh-ranked and eighth-seeded Stanford, will meet Sunday morning in Sporting Park to decide the national champion.

Stanford's Simone Manuel, taking a leave of absence from collegiate competition to train for the 2016 Rio Olympics, set a short course American record in the 100 free and swam the anchor on the U.S. women's 400 medley relay team that set a world record Friday at the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool in Indianapolis.

Palo Alto's planning commission approves environmental analysis for demolition of two buildings, construction of four
A developer looking to revamp the sprawling Stanford Research Park campus once occupied by Facebook earned a long-awaited victory Wednesday night when the city's Planning and Transportation Commission endorsed the environmental analysis for the project.

Some receptacles could be relocated in 2016
Plans to remove more than 80 mailboxes in Palo Alto are temporarily on hold until at least after the first of the year, a United States Postal Service spokesman said on Friday, Dec. 11.

Thursday's prep roundup
The Palo Alto girls remained perfect after four matches following a 4-0 nonleague soccer victory over visiting Gunn on Thursday evening. The Vikings improved to 4-0 and now have outscored the opposition 16-2.

Police are looking for a man who was caught on surveillance video taking packages from a Palo Alto home Saturday afternoon, Dec. 5.

For the second consecutive season, Jordan Morris and Brandon Vincent were named NSCAA First Team All-Americans when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced the latest of its individual player awards on Friday morning.

Sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey and senior guard Joshua Garnett received national honors Thursday night at the Home Depot College Football Awards dinner held at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.

Local residents create Christmas trees that reflect experiences, histories
When the Christmas season begins, Palo Alto resident Nicole Macuil always remembers the most beautiful holiday tree she has ever seen: An exotic white and turquoise Christmas tree at a friend's house that has become the basis of her holiday tree goals and one she always wished to emulate.

Spread holiday cheer with simple do-it-yourself presents
The holiday season can be hectic, and sometimes gifts can fall through the cracks until the very last minute. But no need to panic. Below are four easy  and thoughtful  last-minute gift ideas using a common household item: a Mason jar.

Public input sought for changes to car, bike and pedestrian routes
Trying to unknot the traffic snarls on the western end of Embarcadero Road while satisfying the myriad interests of pedestrians, drivers, bicyclists, students, transportation agencies and retail businesses, the City of Palo Alto convened its first public meeting Tuesday night on improving the busy corridor and making it safer.

As parking congestion shifts to peripheral blocks downtown, Palo Alto considers expanding permit district
For people living in downtown Palo Alto, the city's recently launched parking-permit program offered a promising start to solving their most frustrating problem of the last decade: parking along their streets that some likened to a daily "tidal wave" of commuters' cars.

Ceramic artist Lee Middleman opens his studio
This weekend, accomplished Portola Valley-based ceramic artist Lee Middleman opens the doors of his studio to the public for an exhibition and sale.

Cookbook lets others make luncheon, tea favorites
Just in time for holiday shopping, Gamble Garden releases its first-ever cookbook, titled "Treasured Recipes." The cookbook includes recipes for dishes and treats from the nonprofit's monthly luncheons, afternoon teas and special events.

Andrew Daschbach heard the grumbling and read the negative words. A 1-2 start by his Sacred Heart Prep football team had led outsiders to believe the Gators were overrated and over-hyped.

The 2015 national champion in men's soccer will be either No. 2 Clemson, No. 4 Akron, No. 6 Syracuse or No. 8 Stanford. It's wide open at this point as all four squads head into the NCAA College Cup semifinals on Friday in Kansas City, Kan.

Cardinal corner
After playing three straight games on the road and breaking for final exams, Stanford plays its first game at Maples Pavilion in 23 days when the Cardinal hosts Dartmouth on Saturday at 7 p.m.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Dec. 14.

Menlowe Ballet presents 'It's a Wonderful Nutcracker'
Menlowe Ballet will present its first full-length production, "It's a Wonderful Nutcracker," Dec. 12-20 at the Menlo-Atherton Center for Performing Arts. The production is a blend of "The Nutcracker" and the 1946 classic film, "It's a Wonderful Life."

Palo Alto school district program loans low-income school children musical instruments for home use
Palo Alto Unified School District's instrumental music program provides low-income elementary school music students with loaner instruments to use at home, as well as fosters love for music.

Local beer purveyors recommend pairings for holiday meals
The traditional alcoholic beverage to serve with holiday meals may be wine, but local beer purveyors say beer can offer just as much variety, complexity and complementary flavor.

Residents of Fulton Street prepare for the annual holiday tradition
Seventy-five years ago, the residents of Fulton Street set out Christmas trees along the street and strung up lights from the 1500 block to the 1700 block. When the lights came on, one of the city's oldest traditions was born: Christmas Tree Lane. This Saturday, Dec. 12, the residents turn on the lights for the 2015 holiday season.

University plans to build 1.5 million square feet for offices, medical clinics and research and development
The Stanford University Board of Trustees gave its blessing this week to the university's first significant expansion outside the main campus: a 35-acre "state-of-the-art" site in Redwood City to be filled with more than 2,300 employees.

Two Menlo Park sales on the same lane
Stone Pine Lane shows up twice in this week's list of 47 sales. Learn about these home sales and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Former Stanford defensive back Richard Sherman, in his fifth season with the Seattle Seahawks, was a busy guy in more ways than one on Sunday as the Seahawks dismantled Minnesota, 38-7, with the defense not allowing a single point (Minnesota scored on a kickoff return).

Do I have to allow pets?
Project Sentinel answers a question about allowing tenants to have a dog without asking. Project Sentinel provides landlord-tenant dispute resolution and fair-housing services in Northern California.

Atherton, unsurprisingly, reports highest sale
This week, Atherton reports the highest sale at $6,150,000. This shouldn't come as a shock after knowing that Atherton was named the home of the most expensive real estate in the country by Forbes magazine in 2015.

A Stockton man pleaded not guilty today to a murder charge in connection with the fatal shooting of an East Palo Alto man in October.

Menlo College goalkeeper Kaylin Swart stormed on to the scene as a sophomore and immediately left her mark on the Oaks, the Golden State Athletic Conference and now the nation as she was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Stanford roundup
A program-record five Stanford men's soccer players were named to the 2015 NSCAA NCAA Division I Men's All-Far West Region Teams, it was announced Wednesday.

FEMA releases disaster plan for California and the West
Citing a worrying El Nino storm pattern that could rival 1997-98's flooding this winter, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Wednesday released a 66-page Severe El Nino Disaster Response plan in the event of a disaster in California and other western states.

While Palo Alto was urging residents to save water under California's mandated restrictions, we and other neighbors watched numerous construction projects pump 50-100 gallons per minute of groundwater, 24/7, directly into the storm drains.

Cross country
The Peninsula Flyers, a local age-group cross country/track and field program, will be sending 27 athletes to the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships this weekend in Albuquerque, N.M.

Palo Alto school hopes to address overcrowding, revamp old facilities
A new two-story building, outdoor-learning environments, a maker's space, a multipurpose room that can actually fit the entire school  these are some of the items on Addison Elementary School's capital-improvements wish list, which could soon become a reality with potential funding from an anonymous donor.

Tuesday's prep roundup
The Palo Alto girls removed Menlo-Atherton from the list of unbeaten basketball teams with a solid 63-45 nonleague victory over the host Bears on Tuesday night.

Board members support range of proposals, including hiring athletic trainers and launching pilot math program
At its last meeting of the year on Tuesday night, the Palo Alto school board unanimously approved several large one-time expenditures to support a range of efforts, from full-time high-school athletic trainers to a pilot mathematics program for the elementary schools.

A 26-year-old man from Menlo Park was cited for indecent exposure Tuesday night for allegedly exposing himself and masturbating in a downtown Palo Alto parking garage, according to a police department press release.

Stanford sophomore Christian McCaffrey has been a workhorse running back and kick return specialist who also lined up at blocking back, slot, wildcat quarterback and wide receiver on his way to the NCAA season-record for all-purpose yards this season. On Tuesday, McCaffrey was honored once again for his versatility.

Graduate student spiked lab mates' water with paraformaldehyde
A former Stanford University graduate medical student charged with spiking her lab mates' water with paraformaldehyde pleaded no contest Tuesday, Dec. 8, to four felony counts of poisoning, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office confirmed.

Mayor Karen Holman scores park's inaugural goal in welcoming community to long-awaited park
Palo Alto's kick-off ceremony for the new El Camino Park was, quite literally, a kick off. Mayor Karen Holman scored the inaugural goal Tuesday, Dec. 8, on downtown's new soccer field at the small park that has been undergoing renovations for the past four years.

Animal services officials remind residents to keep small pets indoors
Old Palo Alto residents are warning their neighbors to keep pets indoors after a coyote was spotted running through the neighborhood last week.

City officials seek to clarify policies; critics concerned about decreasing transparency
Every day, Palo Alto's city planners find themselves in negotiations with homeowners and builders over things like storefront signs, rooftop equipment and basement sizes. On Monday, the City Council tried to bring some clarity and transparency to these discussions when it approved a host of changes to the city's Zoning Code.

The Sacred Heart Prep girls are trying to get through the opening few weeks of the soccer season without Stanford-bound senior Tierna Davidson, who is with the U-20 women's team that is competing in the 2015 CONCACAF qualifying tournament in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

College volleyball
Hayley Hodson has been tabbed the AVCA Pacific North Region Freshman of the Year, while a total of four Stanford women's volleyball players have earned all-region first team honors, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Tuesday.

Of local note
The Palo Alto Knights' Jr. Midgets lost their opener at the American Youth Football National Championships, 37-30, to the Buffalo Wolverines on Sunday in Orlando, Fla.

City officials deem San Antonio Road site suitable for two new hotels
It's still a long way from the finish line, but a proposal to build two Marriott hotels on the southern edge of Palo Alto got off to a promising start on Monday night when City Council members indicated that they like the idea  at least in principle.

Cardinal corner
Trevor Speights became the second running back out of Texas to commit to the Stanford football program when he did so on Monday.

Neighborhoods warn city of unbearable conditions if it doesn't work with Mountain View
Without collaboration with the City of Mountain View, Palo Alto won't be able to get a handle on the traffic and safety issues plaguing the south portion of the city, residents told Palo Alto officials at a town hall meeting last Thursday night.

City Council to consider scrapping selected design for Highway 101 overpass, start process anew
It was supposed to be the centerpiece of Palo Alto's biking renaissance -- a slender, elegant bridge that would span U.S. Highway 101 and offer cyclists and pedestrians a beautiful new entryway into the Baylands. Now, Palo Alto's hoped-for signature bike project is on shaky grounds.

Demographer's report shows decline at elementary and middle schools; growth at high schools
As the school community continues to debate whether the district should open a new elementary, middle or high school  or some combination of the three  new projections show elementary and middle school enrollment declining while growth at Palo Alto high schools will increase over the next several years.

Changes to come throughout neighborhoods after the Christmas holiday
Citing a decrease in mail volume, the U.S. Postal Service will remove 81 mailboxes from Palo Alto neighborhood corners after the Christmas holiday, a USPS spokesman said.

Rumi Portillo tapped to lead department after Kathryn Shen's resignation
City Manager James Keene didn't wait long in selecting a new leader for the city's Human Resources Department, tapping a veteran from Los Gatos for the "chief people officer" position.

Twenty-one people suspected in series of auto break-ins throughout Bay Area
A Santa Clara County grand jury has indicted 21 people for a series of sophisticated auto break-ins throughout the Bay Area, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office announced on Monday, Dec. 7.

Sacred Heart Prep junior Maddy Johnson, the Most Valuable Player in Division II, is among a total of 11 local boys and 15 local girls who have been named to the 2015 All-Central Coast Section water polo teams, selected by the area's coaches.

Shaw a coaching finalist
Stanford sophomore Christian McCaffrey has been named one of three finalists for the Heisman Trophy award, presented to the best college football player in the country. He was joined by junior running back Derrick Henry of Alabama and sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson of Clemson.

Parent groups endorse proposal to change school name
A parent in the district is calling on the school board to consider renaming David Starr Jordan Middle School, whose namesake was not only the founding president of Stanford University, but also a leader in the 20th-century eugenics movement.

Stanford sophomore Simone Manuel earned a national title in the 100-meter free on the final day of competition at the AT&T Winter Nationals on Saturday night in Federal Way, Wash., while teammate Lia Neal garnered the silver in the event.

Weekend prep roundup
The first-ever trip to the CIF State Division I volleyball championship match for the Menlo-Atherton girls ended in defeat as the Bears (27-7) fell to defending state champion Redondo Union, 25-16, 25-18, 25-16, on Saturday night at Santiago Canyon College in Orange.

There have been no similar incidents in Palo Alto recently, police say
Palo Alto police are searching for a man who allegedly grabbed a woman's breasts after offering her gardening services and entering her South Palo Alto home on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Football notebook
There was joy, excitement, back-slapping, hugging, high-fives, group pictures, a sense of accomplishment and smiles all-around in the noisy Stanford locker room after Saturday night's 41-22 win against No. 24 USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

This week's retail news
The Performist brings cryotherapy -- the use of extreme cold to speed the healing process -- to Palo Alto's Town & Country Village.

McClymonds next foe
Andrew Daschbach caught a 33-yard flea-flicker pass from fellow senior Mason Randall following a double-reverse with just 40 seconds left in the game to lift Sacred Heart Prep to a thrilling 35-28 football victory over Riordan in the Central Coast Section Open Division III championship game on Saturday night at Westmont High in Campbell.

Iowa is next in Rose Bowl
Getting a Heisman-like performance from Christian McCaffrey, who set all kinds of records, Stanford bowled over USC in the Pac-12 Conference Championship Game with a 41-22 triumph Saturday night at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and earned a berth to the Rose Bowl.

Foster Langsdorf buried a header in the 97th minute to send No. 8 seed Stanford to its first College Cup since 2002, defeating top-seeded Wake Forest, 2-1, in Winston-Salem on Saturday.

Peninsula Press Club contest honors excellence in journalism among more than 400 entries
The Palo Alto Weekly won 16 awards at the Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards luncheon Saturday, Dec. 5, including first place for overall excellence for non-daily newspapers.

Jordan Burgess, Brittany Howard and Madi Bugg leave the Stanford women's volleyball program among the all-time greats, though they will leave without another trip to the NCAA Final Four.

Stanford sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey continues to garner national recognition. This week, the Heisman Trophy candidate was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, one of five finalists for the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year award, and an Academic All-American.

Palo Alto officials to consider two hotels for San Antonio Road
With Palo Alto's hotel boom in full effect, the City Council will consider on Monday the latest entrant into the crowded market when it gets its first look at a proposal to build two Marriott hotels on the southern edge of the city.

Pacific Region honors
Stanford women's soccer midfielder Andi Sullivan was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America first-team All-American, it was announced Friday.

Despite not shooting well and trailing after three quarters, the Pinewood girls rallied for a 50-47 victory over Vista Murrieta in the second round of the La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16 Tournament on Thursday in La Jolla.

Merete Lutz recorded 13 kills and had a hitting percentage of .579 to lead another collaborative effort for the sixth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team in Thursday's 25-20, 25-13, 25-17 victory over visiting New Mexico State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

New school 'concept' proposal a collaboration of district parents, Stanford faculty, superintendent
The "Wayfinder School" concept submission to the XQ Super School Project was completed on Nov. 14, weeks before the Enrollment Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) was set to make its final recommendations to the school board, but after the group's secondary subcommittee first publicly presented its preliminary proposal that the district open a progressive 6-12 school at Cubberley Community Center.

If you knock on the door enough times, eventually someone will answer. That's why the Menlo-Atherton girls will be playing for its first-ever state volleyball championship on Saturday night in Southern California.

Stanford takes aim at securing its first trip to the College Cup, the men's soccer version of the Final Four, in 13 years on Saturday as the seventh-ranked Cardinal (16-2-2) travels to top-ranked and top-seeded Wake Forest (17-2-2) at 4 p.m.

Menlo School girls volleyball coach Steve Cavella is stepping down after three seasons, during which the Knights advanced to the 2013 Division IV state finals and made two trips to the Central Coast Section title match.

When Sacred Heart Prep opened its football season by losing two of its first three games, a lot was lost at that point. First and foremost, the Gators would not repeat their remarkable 13-0 season of 2014 when they captured the Open Division title of the Central Coast Section playoffs.

Kevin Hogan, the winningest quarterback in Stanford football history, will leave a legacy unlike any other quarterback in school history and it's not all about his accomplishments and statistics.

Role of superintendent, enrollment subcommittee criticized, defended
Lack of public disclosure about the superintendent's and a district committee's participation in a detailed new-school proposal has created concern in the community over the past few weeks.

Girls explore life options through mentoring, academic program
Girls to Women caters to girls ages 6 to 14 years and their families, offering homework assistance, mentoring, science and technology education, extracurricular activities and referrals to social services.

Group should be comprised of teachers, students, parents and administrators
The Enrollment Management Advisory Committee, Secondary Schools Subcommittee ("EMAC-SSS") would like to share its perspectives for both the School Board and the community, encourage additional dialogue, and pass these points of view on for additional study.

EMAC's recommendation for new, innovative high school difficult to rely on
The Palo Alto school district's Enrollment Management Advisory Committee started out as a good, even necessary, idea, but a good idea has run aground of a flawed process, over-expanded scope and compromised credibility, making the EMAC's recommendation for a new, innovative third high school difficult to rely on.

Bing hosts a holiday happy hour
Unwind at the end of the work day and celebrate the season at Bing Concert Hall. Don't forget your ugly Christmas sweater!

Despite vocal dissent, Palo Alto City Council approves neighborhood petition
In a decision that left the majority in the audience cheering and a sizable minority seething, Palo Alto officials agreed early Tuesday morning to ban two-story homes in the Greer Park North neighborhood.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris has issued some tips and warnings to help consumers make sure their holiday-season donations go to worthy causes and not to swindlers.

Children's literature offers stories for all ages, including parents
The search for personal identity and young people dealing with modern challenges figure prominently in notable new books for children and teens, including several by local authors. Listen up, parents: these books are not just for kids.

Readers, cooks can explore tastes ranging from Eastern Europe to Chez Panisse
Perusing the cookbook selection at Kepler's Books in Menlo Park, Anne Sturmthal Bergman selected several volumes that were published during the past year, took them home, tried out a few of the recipes and shares her insight.

Three sales in Mountain View after Thanksgiving break
After the Thanksgiving break, Mountain View came in with three sales. They were on Chiquita Avenue, Foxborough Drive and Montecito Avenue.

Retail firm readies for Hamilton Avenue
In these Palo Alto building permits, the retail firm Shinola prepares to open along Hamilton Avenue. Scan the rest of the building permits to learn more about what's happening in your neighborhood.

2015: A frustrating year for buyers
In Palo Alto, 2015 has been a very frustrating year for buyers at all budget levels. The biggest reason is limited inventory.

Top sale comes from Palo Alto
This week, the highest sale price came from Palo Alto at $5,850,000.

Staging for your home sale
Yikes! You have a month to prepare your home for sale, a limited budget and very little free time. How do you invest your time, effort and money to stage your home so that it will sell quickly at the best possible price? Follow these tips to reap the best return on your efforts.

Peninsula dancers are loyal to longstanding holiday show
Choreographer Coleen Duncan is now in her 11th year as volunteer artistic director of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," a traditional holiday ballet put on by Peninsula-based Dancers Repertory Theatre.

Portland author shares her memoir with Palo Alto
In her new memoir, "All the Things We Never Knew," Portland, Oregon-based radio broadcaster Sheila Hamilton reveals how her husband's suicide caught her unaware and devastated her and her family.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, check out a festival of French animated films, go wine tasting in Menlo Park and catch a holiday ballet.

Before there was Jeremy Lin, there was Jim Loscutoff. Before there was "Linsanity", there was "Jungle Jim." Loscutoff, who became Palo Alto High's first NBA player in 1955, passed away Tuesday in Massachusetts at age 85.

With light paddles and balls, its low impact 'keeps you very, very mobile'
Monica Williams and other locals have stumbled upon a new sport: pickleball. Former tennis players are well-represented among the pickleball players, who span all ages but include a significant over-50 contingent, and so are former racquetball, paddle tennis and softball players.

Palo Alto residents have another place to safely dispose of unused, expired or unwanted prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication. A new medication disposal bin has been installed in the lobby of the Palo Alto Police Department headquarters.

Santa Clara County officials launched a campaign Tuesday calling on the public to be on the lookout for human trafficking victims.

Palo Alto firefighters are battling a house fire and evacuating residents in the Fairmeadow neighborhood. See the developing story at http://paloaltoonline.com/news/2015/12/02/palo-alto-firefighters-responding-to-house-fire

Palo Alto firefighters respond to fire in Fairmeadow neighborhood
An Eichler home in Palo Alto's Fairmeadow neighborhood was torched in a morning blaze Wednesday. The resident, who escaped without injury, believes the fire was caused by a faulty electric cord.

Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffrey of Stanford and Cardinal head coach David Shaw received top Pac-12 Conference football honors on Tuesday.

Spurred by citizen complaints, city prepares to revise rules, pursue studies to better understand impacts of 'dewatering'
The millions of gallons of water that have been pumped out of Palo Alto sites this year and sent toward the city's storm drains have historically been viewed as a byproduct of basement construction, rather than a valuable resource going to waste. Now, with the drought in full effect and the citizenry up in arms, the city is looking to change that.

Elizabeth Vilardo tapped to lead medical group
Palo Alto Medical Foundation has named Elizabeth Vilardo, M.D., as its new chief executive officer, according to a Nov. 25 press release.

Fletcher Anderson was going to celebrate his first-year wedding anniversary last Saturday night, but he had a conflict. His Menlo-Atherton girls had a NorCal volleyball match against Pitman. The Bears presented him with another kind of gift, a victory. On Tuesday, there was another present for Anderson.

While they don't take anything for granted, members of the sixth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team expect to be playing deep into the NCAA tournament that begins Thursday at Maples Pavilion.

Announcement came in form of letter written to couple's newborn daughter, Max
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife, Priscilla Chan, announced Tuesday, Dec. 1, that they will give 99 percent of their Facebook shares -- currently about $45 billion -- to charity during their lives through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Palo Alto council members offer words of criticism, encouragement to their top land-use advisers
They are either the unsung heroes of Palo Alto's planning process or a rogue group of pro-growth advocates with a recent tendency to provoke, rather than support the City Council. Whatever one's view, it's hard to deny the recent rupture between the council and city's Planning and Transportation Commission -- a problem that the two bodies addressed at a joint meeting Monday night.

Stanford's All-American tandem of junior forward Jordan Morris and senior left back Brandon Vincent plus Cardinal women's sophomore Andi Sullivan were named semifinalists for their respective 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy, it was announced Tuesday.

Sara Choy has been unbeatable against high school competition during her first two tennis seasons at Sacred Heart Prep. She was 33-0 last season and 26-0 this year for a sparkling 59-0 mark. She hasn't even lost a set during that time.

Fifteen Stanford student-athletes received All-Pac-12 Conference football accolades on Tuesday, including a conference-best seven first-team honorees.

Stanford senior Madi Bugg has been named the Pac-12 Setter of the Year for the third straight season and Hayley Hodson is the Freshman of the Year as the annual conference awards were announced Tuesday by Commissioner Larry Scott.

For the second consecutive season, Stanford men's soccer head coach Jeremy Gunn has been named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Far West Region Coach of the Year, the association announced Monday.

Despite vocal dissent, Palo Alto City Council approves neighborhood petition
In a decision that left the majority in the audience cheering and a sizable minority seething, Palo Alto officials agreed early Tuesday morning to ban two-story homes in the Greer Park North neighborhood.

Palo Alto officials agree to send 429 University Ave. back to the drawing board
The bitter tug-of-war between a developer looking to construct a four-story building on University Avenue and neighbors who say the proposal is too massive for the area will likely extend deep into next year after the City Council demanded on Monday a fresh round of public hearings and design revisions for the controversial project.

Football notebook
Stanford placekicker Conrad Ukropina was pleasantly surprised at how popular he became over the weekend after kicking the game-winning field goal in Saturday's win over Notre Dame.

Grenade uncovered by construction workers on Porter Drive, site of old Army camp
A building at Stanford Research Park was evacuated Monday afternoon after a construction crew discovered a hand grenade while digging at the site, triggering a response from the county bomb squad.

Submissions are due Jan. 15, 2016
State Sen. Jerry Hill's eighth annual "Oughta Be a Law ... or Not" contest, where people are invited to suggest ideas for new state legislation, is open, Hill announced Friday, Nov. 27.

Ukropina gets grid honor
Stanford's Lili Thompson was voted the Pac-12 Player of the Week in women's basketball after helping the Cardinal to a 4-1 record and tournament title last week at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Florida.

College soccer
Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe has been named the 2015 NCAA Pacific Region Coach of the Year, as announced Monday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Women's basketball
Briana Roberson scored 19 of her career-high 26 points after halftime, including a pair of free throws that tied the game with 33 seconds remaining in regulation and No. 13 Stanford won in overtime, beating Purdue, 71-65, in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Classic on Sunday in Estero, Fla.

Conrad Ukropina kicked a 45-yard field goal as time expired to give No. 13 Stanford a 38-36 victory over No. 4 Notre Dame in the regular-season finale before a sellout crowd of 50,242 at Stanford Stadium on Saturday night.

Australian freshman Alanna Smith scored 22 points, including six 3-pointers, Lili Thompson scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half and the No. 13 Stanford women's basketball team recovered from a 12-point first-half deficit to beat Dayton, 74-66, at the Gulf Coast Showcase on Saturday evening in Estero, Fla.

People and animals outside late tonight and Sunday morning in Bay Area inland valleys and mountain areas may suffer as temperatures could drop as low as 26 degrees, National Weather Service officials said.

People and animals outside late tonight and Sunday morning in Bay Area inland valleys and mountain areas may suffer as temperatures could drop as low as 26 degrees, National Weather Service officials said.

It has been quite a season in cross country for Gunn senior Gillian Meeks, who won all three Santa Clara Valley Athletic League races before winning the SCVAL El Camino Division and Central Coast Section Division II races.

Senior Brittany Howard recorded a career-high 22 kills on a hitting percentage of .404 and the sixth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team rallied from behind to beat host No. 13 UCLA, 25-18, 22-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-11, Friday in the regular-season finale.

The Duke and Stanford women's soccer teams played magnificently for 110 minutes Friday, and while the NCAA quarterfinal match officially goes down as a 1-1 tie, the Blue Devils advance to the Women's College Cup on the basis of penalty kicks, 3-2.

Lili Thompson scored 26 points, Briana Roberson added 18 and the 13th-ranked Stanford women's basketball team opened the Gulf Coast Showcase with an 82-65 victory over Missouri State on Friday in Estero, Fla.

Marcus Allen hit a layup with under three seconds remaining for the go-ahead basket as the Stanford men's basketball team downed Arkansas, 69-66, in the consolation game of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Barclay's Center in Brooklyn on Friday.

OK, so the shooting percentage wasn't so great. The Stanford men's basketball team still came away from its 59-45 nonconference loss to No. 8 Villanova on Thursday in Brooklyn, N.Y., with a few positives.

A suspect in a 2014 East Palo Alto homicide who was arrested earlier this month pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges, according to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Oldest previous sale in Palo Alto
This week, the oldest listed previous sale comes from Palo Alto in 1989. Learn about this home sales and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Remodeling bathrooms, kitchens and more
In these 105 Palo Alto building permits, residents look to update bathroom, kitchens and more. Plus, a few businesses get updates, such as a illuminated sign at Fire, Oak & Barley on California Avenue.

Take a tree survey, sign up for a class from the Enjoy! catalog and attend a wearable tech showcase
This week includes an online tree survey through Canopy and the City of Palo Alto, an opportunity to sign up for classes listed in the Enjoy! catalog and a wearable technology event on Dec. 1-2.

Filoli's 'Holiday Traditions' includes shopping boutiques and more
Kick off your holiday shopping (if you haven't already) at Filoli, with shopping boutiques, lunch buffets and more offered Nov. 27-Dec. 5

Residents in Eichler tract request 'single-story overlay'
Weeks after the Palo Alto approved a request from Los Arboles residents to ban new two-story homes in their Eichler neighborhood, officials will consider a similar proposal from Greer Park North.

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, Palo Alto police are offering tips to prevent packages from being stolen from people's front porches.

City to consider hiring new manager, extending consultant contracts for 'Fiber to the Premises'
As Palo Alto forges ahead with a plan to bring high-speed Internet access to every local home and business, city staff is struggling to keep up both with the rapid changes in the broadband market and with the City Council's growing ambitions.

Residents seek to restore vegetation following VA construction project
From its inception, Bol Park and its path have been a rallying point for Palo Alto's Barron Park neighborhood. The gaping, 400-foot-long gash in the verdant border along Bol Park path has become a rallying cry for nine Barron Park residents who want to restore vegetation following VA Palo Alto Healthcare System's expansion project.

Gunn grads return for stand-up show, fundraiser
Professional comedians and Gunn High School graduates Teresa Lee and Nathan Habib return to Palo Alto for a night of stand-up comedy this Friday, Nov. 27.

Students build portable art studio in Stanford intensive
Designer David Szlasa has helped Stanford students build a portable art studio. Now, the challenge is gaining approval to base the studio on campus.

Even with the great talent that Christian McCaffrey possesses, there still is room for improvement, and Stanford's standout running back said he turned a corner in his development last spring.

Afterschool program pairs middle schoolers with tutors from Palo Alto and Gunn high schools and Stanford
DreamCatchers afterschool program offers fun projects to teach low-income middle school students complicated math subjects, as well as units on "healthy behaviors" and "building dreams," to help students understand what is necessary to reach their goals.

The Menlo-Atherton and Menlo School girls both had an opportunity to avenge volleyball losses on Saturday night in the semifinals of the CIF Northern California playoffs. The Bears were successful, but the Knights were not.

Local organizations, artists host a bounty of seasonal entertainment
Before or after your stroll down the streets to gaze at Christmas lights, the Midpeninsula has more holiday events and traditions to offer from "The Nutcracker" ballets to comedy shows.

The Menlo-Atherton and Menlo School girls both moved on to the second round of the CIF NorCal volleyball playoffs following victories on Tuesday night.

Local 'turkey experts' share stories, recommendations
Roasted, fried, smoked or deconstructed  there is an abundance of ways to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. Or is a turkey even necessary? Read on for a number of ways to change things up at the dinner table this holiday season.

Project WeHOPE in East Palo Alto is open
Cold-weather shelters in Santa Clara County opened their doors Tuesday evening, about a week ahead of schedule, to accommodate the homeless due to frigid conditions expected over the next few days.

The retailers are the latest to leave due to rising costs, shifting shopping habits
Two of California Avenue's independent retailers, whose stores have contributed to the small-town charm that has long characterized Palo Alto's so-called "second downtown," have announced they plan to move out.

Stationery, invite experts share tips and tricks for holiday party invitations
Stationery and invite experts share tips and tricks for holiday party invitations this season, such as what to include on invites, how to dress up snail mail, and how to use mail apps and digital invites.

Senior Bret Bonanni, one of the most decorated men's water polo players in school history, added another accolade to his impressive list of achievements on Tuesday. The Cardinal was named to the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation First Team for a third straight season.

Palo Alto grad Kevin Anderson acknowledges that "it's going to be weird" walking onto the field at Stanford Stadium for the final time in a Cardinal football uniform on Saturday.

Youth football
It's holiday time for the Palo Alto Knights' football program. First up is Thanksgiving this week and then Christmas next month. In between, however, maybe something even more special for the players and their families.

New grassroots group calls for moratorium on basement projects that require dewatering
With California's drought stretching through its fourth year, the sight of water gushing out of Palo Alto's construction sites has drained the patience of Keith Bennett and his neighbors in the Crescent Park, Old Palo Alto and Community Center neighborhoods.

From festive recipes and local holiday events to DIY gift ideas and party etiquette
Check out our Holiday Guide to Everything, including where to get inexpensive stocking stuffers, recipes for winter cocktails, a roundup of holiday events and more to make your season bright.

Plans to remove hundreds of trees from Pacific Gas & Electric's pipeline right-of-way through Palo Alto will be the topic of discussion on Dec. 2 when the utility company holds a public meeting at Mitchell Park Community Center.

Palo Alto event will feature live music, food and more
Residents will be able to ring in the Christmas season at the 5th annual City of Palo Alto Tree Lighting Ceremony at Lytton Plaza on Friday, Dec. 4.

CCS roundup
Sacred Heart Prep sophomore Sara Choy opened defense of her singles title at the Central Coast Section Individual Tournament by posting a pair of straight-set wins on Monday at Bay Club Courtside in Los Gatos.

Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffrey earned Pac-12 Conference Football Special Teams Player of the Week honors, it was announced Monday.

Following citizen appeal and design revisions, Palo Alto officials prepare to take another look at 429 University Ave.
To Elizabeth Wong, the building she's proposed for the prominent corner of University Avenue and Kipling Street is exactly what the city needs and what Palo Alto's design guidelines seek to encourage. On Nov. 30, it'll be up to the City Council to decide whether she's right.

Palo Alto residents face unknown conditions in predicted El Nino winter
If a 1998-level El Nino storm barrels into the Bay Area this winter, Palo Alto and East Palo Alto residents and city staff will be left literally holding the sand bag, officials said at a flood-information meeting on Nov. 19.

Cold, rainy and windy weather is set to hit the Bay Area this week as people travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the National Weather Service.

Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffrey of Stanford has been named Pac-12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his record-breaking effort against Cal in the Big Game, it was announced Monday.

Joint session on Nov. 30 offers chance to air grievances, consider improvements
It's no secret that the rift between the Palo Alto City Council and its main land-use advisory panel, the Planning and Transportation Commission, has widened in the past year, with each body pointedly criticizing the policies favored by the other. On Nov. 30, the two bodies will try to repair the damage during their annual joint meeting.

The number of workers without jobs in California decreased last month from the previous month and the number of nonfarm payroll jobs increased, according to new data from the California Employment Development Department.

This week's retail news
After months of delays, Bill's Cafe has opened in Midtown Palo Alto, serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

Thieves allegedly struck victim in downtown Palo Alto
A downtown Palo Alto robbery in which a man was allegedly hit multiple times resulted in the arrest of two men Saturday morning, police announced Sunday.

Cardinal corner
No. 6 Stanford refocused after a frustrating first half to put together a sound attack that led to its 3-1 victory over visiting Santa Clara in the second round of the NCAA men's soccer tournament Sunday at Cagan Stadium.

Christian McCaffrey made another strong push for the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night in front of a national television audience. The sophomore running back compiled a school-record 389 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns in Stanford's 35-22 victory against bowl eligible Cal in the 118th Big Game.

Palo Alto's priciest ZIP code ranks No. 36
Atherton has, for the third year in a row, been named as the ZIP code with the most expensive residential real estate in the country by Forbes Magazine. This year Woodside joins Atherton in the top 10.

The Cardinal clinched a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game on Dec. 5 at Levi's Stadium with its 35-22 victory over visiting California in the 118th Big Game and will meet the winner of next week's game between UCLA and USC.

Saturday CCS roundup
The Menlo-Atherton girls successfully defended their Central Coast Section Division I volleyball title with a 25-14, 27-25, 25-17 victory over Carlmont on Saturday at Independence High School in San Jose.

Cardinal corner
Erica McCall recorded her third double-double in as many games, Lili Thompson added 21 points and six assists and No. 15 Stanford beat visiting No. 22 George Washington, 84-63, in a nonconference women's basketball contest Saturday.

After eight years, Jon Burke finally got it right on the ninth try. As the final buzzer sounded, the Sacred Heart Prep girls water polo coach raised his arms and leaped into the pool. It was picture perfect.

NCAA cross country
A Stanford men's cross-country team, so buried by adversity during mid-season when it dropped to No. 23 in the rankings, battled to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships on Saturday in Louisville, Ky.

Tyler Evans hit several key shots en route to a career-high 28 points and the Menlo College men's basketball team rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat visiting Pacific (Ore.), 101-97, in triple overtime Friday night.

The Palo Alto and Sacred Heart Prep football teams will be playing for at least another week as they won their respective Central Coast Section first-round playoff games on Friday night. Menlo-Atherton, however, did not.

The Stanford men's swimming team won four of five individual events and split the relays, extending its lead at the A3 Performance Invitational in Monterey Park on Friday.

Cardinal corner
Bret Bonanni scored late in regulation to force overtime, though host USC came back to beat Stanford, 7-6, and advance to the semifinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Men's Water Polo Championships Friday in Los Angeles.

Stanford University students and supporters held rally Friday culminating a five-day sit-in calling for the college's divestment from the fossil fuel industry.

Local 'turkey experts' share stories, recommendations
Roasted, fried, smoked or deconstructed  there is an abundance of ways to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. Or is a turkey even necessary? Read on for a number of ways to change things up at the dinner table this holiday season.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Nov. 23.

Eric Struck's Barron Park Garden Railroad to close for winter Nov. 28
Each April Eric Struck opens his backyard railroad to the public, the history of Western railroads spelled out on the sides of box cars and engines: the Southern Pacific; Niles Canyon Railroad; Feather River Canyon.

The Stanford track and field program signed six during the fall signing period, including a top class of women's distance runners -- four of which are ranked either No. 1 or 2 in the nation.

Jisser family accuses city of extortion in requirement for relocation assistance
In the latest skirmish in the long and emotional battle over Palo Alto's sole mobile-home park, the owners of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the City of Palo Alto, accusing it of imposing "unconstitutional" conditions in exchange for permission to shut down the park.

$1.9 million to $3.7 million in Palo Alto
This week, the 10 sales in Palo Alto ranged from $1.9 million to $3.7 million. Learn about this home sales and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Re-roofs continue through fall
In these 181 Palo Alto building permits, residents continue to repair their roofs, which 32 listed below. Scan the rest of the building permits to learn more about what's happening in your neighborhood.

Gallery House hosts 'Artful Holiday Show'
Check out work by more than 40 regional artists at the Artful Holiday Show, now open on Palo Alto's California Avenue.

Stanford professor works to achieve equality for women, in and out of academia
"Can we move beyond the stalled gender revolution?" When Stanford University sociology professor and longtime gender scholar Shelley Correll became director of the university's Clayman Institute for Gender Research, she selected this question as the institution's new focus.

Students learn about and explore the natural world during educational expeditions
Kayaking, hiking, camping and making s'mores sound like summer-exclusive activities done with family, but for Beechwood School students in Menlo Park, getting outdoors is part of the school curriculum.

Brennan Scarlett retains ties with the University of California, where he earned a degree and played football for three years, missing his junior year to injury. It will be all about Stanford, however, when Scarlett takes the field in a Cardinal uniform on Saturday.

Does a college student have the right to invite guests?
Project Sentinel answers a college student's question about a landlord prohibiting guests. The first step: find the lease and look at the language in the lease regulating "guests."

Fossil Free Stanford stages indefinite sit-in
Civil disobedience is alive and well at Stanford University this week, where upwards of 80 students have been sleeping, eating and peacefully protesting outside of President John Hennessy's office until the university signals it is willing to divest from the fossil-fuel industry.

Dr. Deepak Chopra's new book, "Super Genes," suggests that our thoughts and feelings have a powerful and direct influence on our physical well-being.

The December article in the Atlantic magazine addressing the two teen suicide clusters we've experienced in Palo Alto -- in 2009 and again in 2014 -- highlights some critical issues in our community. Some of our challenges are mirrored elsewhere, and others may hope to learn from our experience and our responses.

In the locker room after last Saturday's 38-36 Pac-12 Conference football loss to Oregon, Stanford senior offensive left guard Joshua Garnett addressed the team. His message: Pick your head up. We've got a lot to play for.

This month's book news
This month, author Heidi R. Kling releases a young adult novel about teen suicide, Patrick Krejcik publishes a Wall Street-style thriller with a Silicon Valley twist, and more.

Behind the hype: An objective look at the Silicon Valley market
Recent television shows and online documentaries paint quite a sensational portrait of Bay Area real estate, with over-the-top personalities, $2 million teardowns, frenzied bidding wars and prices that seemingly have no ceiling.

This week's retail news
After months of delays, Bill's Cafe has opened in Midtown Palo Alto, serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

Warren Morrison Jr. accused in shooting death of Jarmal Magee, 31
A Stockton man made his initial appearance in San Mateo County Superior Court Wednesday to face charges that he shot and killed a man in October in East Palo Alto, prosecutors said.

Palo Alto home prices cross the $3 million line in September
The price paid for single-family homes in Palo Alto took a huge leap in September, when the median price reached $3,337,500. This is 28 percent over the August median of $2,600,000.

$11 million-plus sale in Atherton
This week, one sale in Atherton soars ahead of the rest as far as price, with it selling for $11,333,000.

Native plants, sliding screen challenge idea that front yard is only for show
A lush green front lawn lined with tidy floral beds just didn't seem right to Marsha and Art Grantz in this fourth drought year. So they called in Marsha's daughter, a landscape designer, to create a new space that would thrive in Palo Alto's climate.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, check out work by more than 40 regional artists at the Artful Holiday Show, hear teen authors discuss their new novels and catch the Bay Choral Guild's rousing rendition of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana."

The 118th Big Game kicks off Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Stanford Stadium, and there is no telling what the outcome holds. The series is famous for heroic performances, crazy bounces and fantastic finishes, the majority at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.

After 17 years of fits and starts in Palo Alto's quest to build a new police headquarters, residents at a community meeting Wednesday told the city to make it happen sooner rather than later.

CCS roundup
The Sacred Heart Prep boys have won four straight Central Coast Section Division II water polo championships. Menlo School would like to see that streak end when the rivals meet in the section finals on Saturday.

Last day to request books through LINK+ service is today, Nov. 19
The Palo Alto library system will be transitioning to a new online services platform and will suspend its inter-library book-borrowing service, LINK+, on Friday, Nov. 20, until Feb. 1, 2016, to allow time for data cleanup and migration, according to an announcement.

Adam Griffin scored a game-high 17 points, an effort that included a 5-of-7 performance from long range, and the Menlo College men's basketball team downed visiting Northwest Christian, 66-62, Wednesday night in a nonconference contest.

New project proposes host of bike improvements for southern portion Bryant Street
More than three decades after Bryant Street became the nation's first "bicycle boulevard," Palo Alto officials are preparing to extend the popular bike route to the southernmost reaches of the city.

Valerie Fong steps down after nine years of overseeing municipal electricity, gas, water and fiber operations
Utilities Director Valerie Fong, who has spent the past nine years overseeing the city-owned electricity, gas, water and fiber operations, is preparing to hit the off switch on her Palo Alto term in December, creating an opening in one of the city's most complex and critical positions.

Stanford sends its men's and women's teams to the NCAA Cross Country Championships for the 22nd consecutive season -- the longest ongoing streak in the country -- on Saturday in Louisville, Ky. Stanford squads have won a combined nine NCAA titles -- the women five and the men four.

Of local note
A handful of local college volleyball players have received honors at various levels, including All-American recognition following the conclusion of their regular seasons.

In Q&A, provost addresses climate survey, education, prevention
Close to two months after the release of a Stanford University climate survey with controversial results on campus sexual assault, Provost John Etchemendy responded directly to concerns and criticisms raised by students and faculty in a statement issued Wednesday.

Water polo
After one night of semifinals in the Central Coast Section water polo playoffs, this is what has been decided: There will be no matchup between the Gunn and Menlo-Atherton boys in Division I while Sacred Heart Prep and St. Francis will meet in the finals for the first time since 2007.

Students, groups plan further discussion on well-being, suicide prevention
The appearance in a national publication of a now-familiar story  that of a community, Palo Alto, grappling with youth suicide  has elicited strong reaction locally, particularly from students, alumni, school district leadership and local mental health professionals.

Football notebook
Stanford football David Shaw has been involved in the Big Game as a player and assistant coach. It still means a lot to him.

City Council approves stop-gap 'minimum standards' for local airport, prepares to engage the community for permanent standards
When Palo Alto formally took over the operations of its eponymous airport last year, the goal was to turn the bustling but long-neglected facility into a community treasure. As one step, the city on Monday established rules for airport users and policies for leasing, maintaining and constructing facilities at the busy Baylands hub.

Of local note
Three former Sacred Heart Prep athletes helped their respective Princeton teams to league championships this past weekend as both squads prepared for postseason play.

It was another Stanford reunion in week 10 of the National Football League as Josh Mauro and Stepfan Taylor of the Arizona Cardinals helped their team defeat Doug Baldwin and Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks.

Caltrain is seeking representatives to join its bicycle advisory committee to promote the interests and perspectives of bicyclists for integration into the California commuter rail line's planning process.

Student organization, Fossil Free Stanford, calling for divestment from fossil fuels
A sit-in by students calling for Stanford University's divestment from the fossil fuel industry has continued for a second day.

City looks to restrict new facilities with hazardous materials; phase out CPI's plating shop
Barron Park residents who have long complained about the perils of living next to a plating shop filled with toxic chemicals earned a long-awaited victory Monday night, when the City Council agreed to phase out the industrial operation next door and to impose new restrictions on hazardous materials.

Federal agency responds to flurry of Bay Area complaints about airplane noise
Responding to a rising volume of complaints about airplane noise, the Federal Aviation Administration has agreed to take a fresh look at flight paths, plane altitudes and new procedures that would bring some peace to the afflicted skies above San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.

Council members and staff addressed floods, parking, aircraft noise and other residential concerns
Palo Alto officials held the first in a series of town hall-style meetings last week at Duveneck Elementary School to listen to residents' concerns and provide a better understanding regarding how the city aims to solve issues plaguing their neighborhoods.

The back-to-back Pac-12 champion Stanford men's soccer team received the No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament when the bracket was announced on Monday morning. It's the Cardinal's third straight appearance in the postseason.

The Menlo-Atherton, Menlo School and Sacred Heart Prep girls all advanced to semifinal matches following victories in the Central Coast Section volleyball quarterfinals on Saturday.

The second season of high school football gets under way this weekend with four local teams competing in one of the five new Central Coast Section playoff brackets, none of which appear favorable for the local squads.

It's down to the semifinals of the Central Coast Section water polo tournaments and seven local teams are still alive, all battling for berths in Saturday's championship matches at Independence High in San Jose.

Piece on youth suicides to publish online Tuesday, Nov. 17
Palo Alto school and city officials, with the help of local mental health professionals, are bracing for the release of a cover story in national magazine The Atlantic on the recent teen suicide cluster.

Michael Humphrey recorded his second double-double in as many games in helping lead Stanford to a 93-59 basketball victory over visiting Charleston South on Sunday in a preliminary game of the Preseason NIT.

Cardinal corner
Erica McCall recorded a double-double with a career-high 23 points and 13 rebounds, Lili Thompson added 21 points and the 16th-ranked Stanford women's basketball team closed the game on a 19-1 run to beat host Gonzaga, 65-48, at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane on Sunday.

Esther Wojcicki, also known as Woj, talks with Lisa Van Dusen at the new Palo Alto High School Media Arts Center (MAC) about writing for a real audience, blended learning and mastery learning.

Oaks report
Maddie Clegg had 10 kills and recorded a hitting percentage of .474 but the Menlo College women's volleyball team dropped a 25-18, 25-22, 25-17 decision to host San Diego Christian in a Golden State Athletic Conference contest Saturday.

Oregon beat Stanford, 38-36, in a Pac-12 Conference football contest to remain in the hunt for the North Division title and a berth in the Pac-12 Conference title game. The Ducks, at full strength, are as good as any team on Stanford's schedule and they were clicking on Saturday.

University administrators field questions about climate survey, breakdown in student trust
Stanford University administrators engaged in rare public dialogue with students about sexual-assault issues on campus during a town hall meeting Friday morning.

Sacred Heart Prep and Menlo-Atherton made successful tuneups for next week's Central Coast Section football playoffs, but Palo Alto and Menlo School did not following losses on the final night of the regular season.

Cardinal corner
Briana Roberson scored 15 points, Erica McCall added her third career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds and the 16th-ranked Stanford women's basketball team opened the season with a 74-45 nonconference victory over host UC Davis on Friday night.

Averie Collins scored, Kyra Carusa's early shot resulted in an own goal in the first half and the Stanford women's soccer team downed visiting San Jose State, 2-0, in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday.

The Stanford men finished second in the rain and mud of the NCAA West Regional Cross Country Championships on Friday, earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships.

Football notes
When Stanford played at top-ranked Oregon in 2012, Joey Alfieri was a junior at Jesuit High in Portland. He was a guest of the Ducks, but left a fan of the Cardinal after watching it stage a 17-14 overtime win.

Warren Morrison Jr. held on $5 million warrant
A Stockton man wanted for the Oct. 25 homicide of an East Palo Alto resident was arrested without incident today, Nov. 13, East Palo Alto police have announced.

The Stanford men's golf team, men's gymnastics squad, softball and wrestling teams all continued to build for the future by signing athletes last week to National Letters of Intent for the 2016-17 season.

The Stanford men finished second at the NCAA West Regional Cross Country Championships on Friday in Seattle, earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships. The Cardinal women were fourth (121 points) and will require an at-large berth to advance.

Award-winning Palo Alto pianist juggles school, music, volunteerism
Gunn High School junior Heather Chang is a national award-winning pianist with a passion for sharing classical music with her community.

Lanes will be closed all day, officials say
One northbound lane and one southbound lane of Alma Street in Palo Alto is shut down this morning after a contractor hit a water line that provides water for firefighting, a utility spokeswoman said.

As many as four or five local athletes could run away with individual titles at the Central Coast Section Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Crystal Springs in Belmont. Gunn senior Gillian Meeks is favored to defend her title in the girls' Division II race. She won last year in Division I.

Oaks report
Maggie McDonald recorded 27 kills and 13 digs to help lead the Menlo College women's volleyball team to a 23-25, 25-14, 26-24, 25-17 victory over host Arizona Christian in a Golden State Athletic Conference match Thursday.

Cardinal corner
Stanford had some celebrating to do on Thursday night. The No. 6 Cardinal's 1-0 victory on The Farm over rival and No. 23 Cal to close out its regular season was sandwiched between a pregame recognition honoring the program's decorated senior class and a postgame ceremony celebrating its second consecutive Pac-12 championship.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Nov. 16.

New AC units as winter approaches
Some people are planning ahead by installing new air conditioning units, even though winter is approaching. Scan the rest of the building permits to learn more about what's happening in your neighborhood.

Piece of summer in Woodside
This week, one sale in Woodside reminds readers that it's not summer anymore, but at least the new owners of the home on Summerhill Lane can have a little piece of summer all year.

Prep roundup
The last time the Gunn girls played in a Central Coast Section Team Tournament title match was 1993. The last time the Titans won the championship was 1992. Those droughts have a chance to end on Saturday.

No one could have predicted the kind of success the freshmen class would enjoy this year for the Stanford women's soccer team. It was one of the most highly touted recruiting classes in the nation with potential off the charts. But, to expect five of the newcomers to make their way into the starting lineup at one point or another? Yeah, right.

Stanford football players don't need to be reminded the importance of Saturday's home game against Oregon. They know their Pac-12 history. Beginning with the 2009 season, the Ducks and Cardinal are the only teams to win conference titles and it normally comes down to their annual meeting. It's no different this year.

The importance of good ventilation
Columnist Ciro Giammona explains the term "building science," an approach to building or remodeling a home that takes the laws of physics into consideration, and how it improves people's lives.

Stanford junior forward Erica McCall always had the talent. Now she's got the confidence to go with it as the Cardinal women prepare to open their 2015-16 basketball season on Friday at UC Davis.

Rosco Allen's Italian experience this summer included a police escort for the sake of a basketball game. Perhaps he'd like to create another opportunity for such an escort with the help of his Stanford men's basketball teammates, for the sake of a championship.

Children develop teamwork, leadership through Palo Alto Housing Corporation homework club and recreational activities
Palo Alto Housing Corporation received a $2,500 grant last April as part of the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund to help maintain free or low-cost activities in the program, helping to keep spots open to kids from all economic backgrounds in one of PAHC's complexes.

Proposed ordinances would amortize CPI's plating shop; update city's hazardous-materials ordinance
On Monday night, the City Council will consider a law that would require businesses using high quantities of hazardous materials to be located at least a football field away from residences, schools, day care centers and other areas where occupants may be particularly susceptible to the effects.

Stanford students test new prototype exhibits at one-day event
A pendulum that creates elaborate designs; a radar gun that shows kids the speed of their kicked soccer ball compared to that of a cheetah; and a hands-on fossil excavation -- those were among the nearly 20 exhibits that parents and children experienced for the first time at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo on Wednesday afternoon.

Barron Park residents observe Indian Diwali, the Festival of Lights
A festival of enlightenment, of the triumph of good over evil, will take place in Barron Park this Sunday, Nov. 15, when residents join together for Diwali, the ancient Hindu Festival of Lights.

The Stanford women's swimming and diving program has announced the signing of seven incoming student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, with the group joining the Cardinal for the 2016-17 campaign.

Mademoiselle Colette brings a taste of Paris to Menlo Park
Mademoiselle Colette, the elegant French patisserie that opened in Menlo Park last month, has quickly proven popular.

Andrea Lee, one of the top student-athletes in the class of 2016, signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday to continue her academic and athletic career with the defending national champion Stanford women's golf team.

In new era, Palo Alto firefighters respond to all kinds of emergencies, including growing number of medical emergencies
While many people maintain an image of firefighters hanging around the fire station waiting for a blaze, today's firefighters, including Palo Alto firefighters, do far more than battle infernos.

Support Palo Alto's secondary school students rather than create "haves" and "have nots"
Like many in our community, I am excited by the Enrollment Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) proposal presented at the Palo Alto Unified School District board meeting on Oct. 26.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, take part in the inaugural ArtWorlds cultural event at the Community School of Music and Art, catch a dance performance inspired by computers and walk the festive streets of Los Altos at the 13th annual Holiday Stroll.

Sahba Shere brings energy to Cubberley Artist Studio Program
Artist Sahba Shere is among those who will share her work and welcome the public to her studio at Palo Alto's Cubberley Community Center as part of Meet the Artists on Nov. 12 and a Holiday Open House on Nov. 21.

Home Efficiency Genie program helps residents go deeper with energy savings
Residents don't need to rub a magic lamp to save energy at home, but they can still turn to a genie  the Home Efficiency Genie. This program provides residents with free expert advice, discounted home assessments and a resource for how to move forward with energy-efficiency projects.

Someone has been pointing lasers at the cockpits of jet aircraft flying over Palo Alto and Mountain View -- a potentially dangerous action that could interfere with the aircraft's pilot sight, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

District settles with Kevin Sharp for $150,000
A Palo Alto High School teacher has received $150,000 from the school district in exchange for his resignation following accusations that the teacher engaged in inappropriate behavior with a former student, according to an agreement obtained by the Weekly.

State Attorney General Kamala Harris has issued a consumer alert urging Californians to be on the lookout for "pension poaching" scams that target seniors who served in the military and their survivors.

Abrubt departure of Cynthia D'Agosta announced Wednesday afternoon
Volunteers at Filoli, the historic estate located north of Woodside, learned Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 11, via an email that Cynthia D'Agosta, the organization's executive director since late 2012, has left her job.

Sacred Heart Prep senior Malaika Koshy heads the list of highly regarded recruits who will join the Stanford women's water polo program after signing national letters of intent, it was announced Wednesday.

The plan for a new combined middle and high school in Palo Alto was unveiled at a special Oct. 26 meeting. We should look carefully at this newest plan now, before the expensive blueprints are drawn up and the "Building for the Future" construction signs are in place.

Proposed policy to return to the board for action in December
A new policy that aims to more clearly and comprehensively protect the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming students in the Palo Alto school district received a strong endorsement from the school board on Tuesday night, as well as a peppering of questions from one board member in particular.

If the Central Coast Section Team Tournament in girls tennis seems a bit brief this season, it's because it is. Normally spread out over 1 1/2 weeks, the 2015 event -- thanks to Monday's rainout -- is now held in just five days.

The Stanford women's basketball team has announced the signings of four prep standouts to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. All four will join the Cardinal ahead of the 2016-17 season.

Committee members divided on need -- or not -- to open new schools
A second school board discussion of the Enrollment Management Advisory Committee's preliminary proposals on Tuesday night brought to light divisions between the committee members themselves on the state of enrollment growth in the Palo Alto school district and how to best address it.

While all the finalists from last year's Central Coast Section water polo playoffs are back, having the same title-game matchups for the 2015 tournament will not be in the offering.

Proposal by two City Council members would set minimum age at 21
With Palo Alto's crusade against tobacco rapidly gathering force, two members of the City Council on Tuesday floated a proposal to raise the minimum age for buying cigarettes to 21.

Alana Cook was named the Pac-12 Freshman-Newcomer of the Year, Jane Campbell earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors and Paul Ratcliffe was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year Tuesday by the conference. Altogether, Stanford had eight women's soccer selections.

The 2015 National Football League season has been a physical grind for former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who has taken more than his share of hits. The extent of that pounding became even more evident Tuesday when the Indianapolis Colts announced that Luck would miss two to six weeks with a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle.

City Council unanimously supports new effort to prohibit packing peanuts, Styrofoam containers
Last year, Palo Altans threw away about 114 tons of plastic foam -- enough packing peanuts, foamy egg cartons, ice chests, clamshell containers and Styrofoam cups, bowls and plates to fill up the entire Council Chambers 21 times, according to Public Works staff. On Monday night, the City Council made a move to lighten this load when it supported banning plastic foam from local businesses.

School board to also discuss recommendations from enrollment committee, new gender-identity policy
At the Palo Alto school district's request, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has agreed to conduct an in-depth epidemiology study of the community's teen suicide clusters, Superintendent Max McGee said Tuesday.

Palo Alto to study 'hybrid' design involving Matadero Creek, area streets
Despite political and technical roadblocks, Palo Alto officials signaled Monday night that they they are still looking at Matadero Creek as a partial solution for improving east-west connections for local bicyclists in the Midtown area.

Los Arboles secures unanimous City Council support for 'single-story overlay'
Los Arboles residents take pride in their neighborhood's diversity, but they are fairly united when it comes to the topic of building heights. On Monday, they scored a victory when the City Council granted their request to ban new two-story homes.

Student panelists speak of frustration, trauma of university response and procedures
Four young women who said they were sexually assaulted during their time at Stanford University told an audience of 150 students, faculty and others on Monday night stories not of their assaults, but of a university whose handling of their cases made them feel, as one student put it, like "there is no justice on this campus."

Menlo College women's soccer goalie Kaylin Swart earned Golden State Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for helping the Oaks advance in the conference tournament on Saturday.

Stanford received one of four No. 1 seeds into the NCAA women's soccer tournament and will play host to San Jose State in the first round on Friday at 7 p.m. The Cardinal (16-2, 10-0-1 Pac-12) is seeded to host the first four rounds.

Stanford professor awarded $3 million Breakthrough Prize in life science while two others won New Horizons in Physics prizes
It's not often you get to see actor B. J. Novak, tech investor Yuri Milner and former CIA director David Patraeus together. Walking down the red carpet just outside of Hangar One at Moffett Field, the unlikely trio was just a sample of some of the big-name celebrities who showed up in Mountain View Sunday night to support some of the world's top scientists.

Center looks to open new health clinics to serve 12- to 25-year-olds
Stanford Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has consolidated all of its existing youth mental health efforts  as well as some new ones  under one roof and a new name: the Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Both Stanford tennis programs will be represented with two participants when tournament play opens Thursday morning at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

Five local girls volleyball teams will take to the court this week to begin the Central Coast Section playoffs. Menlo-Atherton will open as the defending Division I champion.

The Stanford football team has done a nice job of staying in the moment. It has won eight straight games and can claim its third Pac-12 Conference North Division title in the last four years by beating Oregon on Saturday or Cal the following week.

Cardinal corner
Merete Lutz, Brittany Howard and Hayley Hodson each recorded 12 kills and No. 7 Stanford topped host Oregon State, 25-23, 25-21, 25-18, in a Pac-12 women's volleyball match to keep pace with UCLA for third place in the conference standings, one game behind second-place Washington.

Prep cross country
The one constant for the Menlo-Atherton girls in cross country over the past four years, and likely longer, has been success. The current group of seniors have never lost a Peninsula Athletic League championship.

Oaks report
The Menlo College women's soccer team has displayed a penchant for the dramatic when it comes to postseason play and Saturday's Gold State Athletic Conference tournament opener at The Master's College in Santa Clarita fit right in.

Palo Alto sends out warning email about upcoming assessment of trees
Concerned about Pacific Gas & Electric's plan to chop down potentially hundreds of mature trees in Palo Alto, city officials have sent an email to neighborhood groups advising residents not to sign any agreements with the utility company regarding tree removal until the city has assessed and come to an agreement with PG&E.

Kevin Hogan threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another, Christian McCaffrey rushed for 147 yards and threw for a touchdown and No. 9 Stanford beat host Colorado, 42-10, in a Pac-12 Conference football contest Saturday.

Prep water polo
The water polo tournament champions of three different leagues were crowned on Saturday and, with few exceptions, the favorites won while tuning up for the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs.

Public meeting will evaluate California Avenue area site for police, emergency services
lans for Palo Alto's proposed new public safety building will take another step forward on Nov. 18 when the city holds a community meeting to evaluate the site on two public parking lots at 250 Sherman
Plans for Palo Alto's proposed new public safety building will take another step forward on Nov. 18 when the city holds a community meeting to evaluate the site on two public parking lots at 250 Sherman Ave.

Stanford roundup
Senior Gray Umbach and freshman Matt Anderson each won two events to lead the fifth-ranked Stanford men's swimming and diving team past visiting No. 7 North Carolina State, 164-136, in a nonconference dual meet Saturday.

Cross country
The Sacred Heart Prep boys successfully defended their title, the Priory girls won in an upset and Menlo School sophomore Robert Miranda won his first individual crown to highlight the West Bay Athletic League cross country championships on Friday.

Cal Fire is lifting suspensions on permits for outdoor agricultural and residential burning on Monday in San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, Cal Fire officials said Saturday.

Friday prep football
At the conclusion of the Menlo Atherton-Burlingame football game on Friday night, there was a vast difference in the two teams' post-game reactions, as the Panthers players and coaches celebrated on their home field with friends and family, while the Bears' squad quickly and quietly exited the stadium.

Stanford is the king of the Pac-12 yet again. For the second consecutive season and third time in program history, the Cardinal has claimed the conference crown. This time, without even playing.

The Murphy brothers combined for nine touchdowns and 496 offensive yards to lead visiting Pinewood to a wild 72-48 football romp over host Priory on Friday in Portola Valley to decide the annual Panther Bowl.

Manhunt on for alleged killer, another arrested for multiple shootings
In what police describe as a turning point in East Palo Alto's crime-solving efforts, the department Friday announced the arrest of one man and a warrant for another in connection with two separate homicides.

Legislative proposals would reform to Federal Aviation Administration, re-open of EPA's Office of Noise Abatement and Control
Responding to an upswell of concern from constituents about increasing airplane noise, U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo is co-sponsoring a pair of bills that she hopes will restore some peace to local skies.

U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named Stanford junior forward Jordan Morris to the 23-player roster for the for the USA's first match of 2018 World Cup Qualifying campaign. Game 1 is set for Nov. 13 against St. Vincent & the Grenadines in St. Louis.

Almost three years ago to the day, Kevin Hogan had a coming out party in Colorado. While Stanford won six of its first eight games in 2012, the offense was sputtering. Looking for a spark, Stanford head coach David Shaw, replaced Josh Nunes with Hogan on the third series of a Pac-12 matchup against the Buffaloes in Boulder.

Mackenzie Drazan started Teaching Everyone About Mental Health after her sister's death by suicide
In the months after Mackenzie Drazan lost her younger sister, Shelby, to suicide last year, the 20-year-old Woodside resident and Duke University sophomore says she learned a lot of things she wished she had known while her sister was still alive.

Maddie Secco scored twice and added an assist and No. 13 Stanford beat Vermont, 5-2, in the quarterfinals of the American East Conference tournament Thursday.

Holiday Fund invites community members to support services for kids, families
Life-skills classes for at-risk youth, an art program to bring East Palo Alto and PaloAlto kids together to learn from and understand one another these and dozens of other nonprofit programs are made possible each year through contributions to the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Nov. 9.

City looks to ban sale, distribution of expanded foam
As part of the city's ongoing war against the Styrofoam, the City Council is preparing to consider an expansion of the city's existing ordinance, which was adopted in 2010 and covers Styrofoam containers at local food service establishments.

Longtime local program serves critical support, advocacy role
There's a rare place in Mountain View where transgender and gender non-conforming teens feel safe to explore, express and be who they are.

Cardinal roundup
The nationally No. 3-ranked Stanford women's soccer team will be looking to complete a perfect conference season when it plays host to No. 20 California on Friday in its regular-season finale at 6 p.m.

He's just a freshman and people are already telling Quenton Meeks he should think about getting into coaching once his playing days are over. Once he starts talking football, though, it becomes clear. The man was made for the sport.

Channing House veterans memorialize those who sacrifice for their nation
The collective scars and memories of past military service are slowly ebbing in Channing House, a downtown Palo Alto senior residence, as more veterans pass away.

When citizen involvment becomes less resourceful and more restrictive
I have always admired the way Palo Altans care about their community and engage with the political process when they have concerns. Lately, however, I am seeing the dark side of citizen involvement. If I had to give it a name, I would call it the Tyranny of the Neighborhood Email List.

Understanding the vocabulary around transgender issues
A list of key terms related to transgender issues.

Proposed action aims to more fully support transgender, gender non-conforming students
The Palo Alto school board will discuss next week a new policy aimed at ensuring the protection of the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming students.

Stanford Children's Health to open a multidisciplinary clinic for transgender patients
Today, medical interventions are making it more possible for transgender children to transition earlier, and then keep their identity private if and when they choose to.

Palo Alto students, families push district to evolve with changing gender norms
For years, Palo Alto transgender students and their parents have advocated for better support at school and more comprehensive district policies around LGBTQQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning) issues.

Pacific Art League celebrates First Friday with photos and more
This Friday, Palo Alto's Pacific Art League hosts a free First Friday reception for "Exposed," a show of new photographs by regional artists.

Some fares for SamTrans bus service are changing next year and again in 2019 after approval last week by the district's board of directors, SamTrans officials said.

Performance installation commemorates opening of Stanford's McMurtry Building
This weekend, the new McMurtry Art and Art History Building at Stanford will be the site for "Space Launch!," a dance performance installation by the Chocolate Heads Movement Band.

Creating more space in a small home
How do you create a spacious look if you live in a small apartment or cottage? Any space can feel roomier if you try these ideas.

Proposed ordinance would require commercial customers to separate compostable materials from trash or face fines
Palo Alto's goal to prevent nearly all waste from going to landfills by 2021 cannot be achieved unless commercial customers are compelled to take part in the city's recycling and composting services, city staff told the Palo Alto City Council on Monday.

Flu virus expected to circulate at peak levels between December and April, health officials say
California Department of Public Health officials reported yesterday that the first influenza-associated death this year in an individual less than 65 years old was a Santa Clara County resident.

Palo Alto looks to pull the plug on proposed Matadero Creek bike trail
Both in terms of geography and significance, the proposed bike path along Matadero Creek was supposed to be the centerpiece of Palo Alto's bike-improvement boom. But a series of complications, both technical and political, are now forcing the city to abandon this project and consider new routes for improving east-west connections.

Cross country
Stanford senior Aisling Cuffe was named Pac-12 Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year this week, earning the award for the second time.

Neighbor describes flames 20 to 30 feet high
The cause of a fire that gutted a home in Palo Alto Wednesday night and displaced a family, is being labelled as undetermined, according to Deputy Fire Chief Catherine Capriles.

Football notebook
No. 9 Stanford (7-1 overall, 6-0 Pac-12) approaches a Pac-12 Conference contest at Colorado (4-5, 1-4) on Saturday on a seven-game winning streak. Each week, it becomes more evident that Stanford has been strengthened by its season-opening loss to Northwestern.

Four Stevenson House mentions
PASHPI Financials/Stevenson House get four mentions in this list of 16 building permits. Scan the rest of the building permits to learn more about what's happening in your neighborhood

Cardinal corner
Stanford junior All-American Maverick McNealy capped a sensational fall season by earning medalist honors for the third time in four events on Wednesday at the Gifford Collegiate Championship at windy La Costa Resort.

Document shredding, kid learning, plant diagnosing, fabric selling and ceramic buying
This week includes a document shredding event on Nov. 7, a rain lesson for kids on Nov. 8, a plant diagnosis opportunity on Nov. 13, a Jumbo Sale with FabMo on Nov. 14 and a ceramics sale on Nov. 14-15.

Jackson Drive sale is highest in Palo Alto
This week, Palo Alto's highest sale took place on Jackson Drive for $3,820,000. Learn about this home sale and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Highs in the $4 millions
This week, four of the 10 cities this week had highest sales in the $4 millions. These include Atherton, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View.

Passive House hosts conference, bicycle tour about energy-efficient homes
As part of a series and to serve as its annual conference, Passive House California hosts Building Carbon Zero California on Friday, Nov. 13. The event will feature more than 15 presenters throughout the day that will cover topics ranging from policy discussion to building materials  each with the goal of reducing the carbon footprint.

This week, see a site-specific dance performance honoring the opening of Stanford's McMurtry Art and Art History Building, catch a farcical stage production inspired by "The Return of the Jedi" and celebrate the vibrant art of flamenco at a show in Mountain View.

November news for seniors
November news for seniors includes locals who walked to end Alzheimer's, a new project to help people with dementia experience purpose and meaning in their lives through horses, a craft sale at Avenidas and Friday Afternoon Dance Parties.

Members, nonmembers will find authors, doctors, historians and more on the agenda
Events for seniors this fall at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center include lectures by authors, doctors, historians  and some Argentine tango.

Gunn High theater production invites audiences to slow down
Gunn High School's theater department is currently staging Thorton Wilder's "Our Town." Director Jim Shelby and cast members say the play is a reminder to check in with what's really meaningful in life.

After winning the three previous league meets, the Gunn girls and Palo Alto boys were pretty much shoe-ins to claim team titles at the SCVAL El Camino Division Cross Country Championships on Tuesday. To absolutely no one's surprise, the Titans and Vikings did just that.

Jeffrey Donnelly of Palo Alto died in incident on Page Mill Road
Jeffrey Donnelly, the bicyclist who was fatally struck by a car on Page Mill Road Tuesday morning, was the chief operating officer of Silicon Valley company Zeta Instruments in San Jose, company CEO Rusmin Kudinar has confirmed.

Tuesday's prep roundup
It has been quite a sophomore tennis season for Sacred Heart Prep sophomore Sara Choy, who navigated the dual-match campaign without a loss. That perfection continued in the West Bay Athletic League Individual Tournament on Tuesday.

For residents of the Los Arboles, the squat and glass-doored Eichler isn't just the architectural norm  it's a symbol of the neighborhood's identity. On Nov. 9, they will appeal to the Palo Alto City Council to help them preserve the distinct Eichler character of the neighborhood by two-story homes.

Sources of Strength aims to create culture of increased awareness, compassion and support for students
Dr. Shashank Joshi of Stanford University will be the guest speaker at an event at Gunn High School regarding a student wellness and suicide prevention program, Sources of Strength.

Staff presents early budget proposals; will return to board in February with finalized list
A special Board of Education budget study session on Tuesday night offered a wide-ranging but still-preliminary look at where the Palo Alto school district would like to invest its dollars in the coming years, from the potential implementation of full-day kindergarten to the opening of a new secondary school.

Palo Alto Mayor Karen Holman will be the host at a special event honoring veterans and those in active service next week.

It was a good day for the Menlo School girls golf team at the Central Coast Section Championships on Tuesday at Rancho Canada (East Course) in Carmel Valley. The Knights had their best team finish ever -- fourth -- while sophomore Sophie Siminoff earned a berth into next week's NorCal tournament.

Cardinal men in second
The No. 3-ranked Stanford women's golf team concluded the fall season on a strong note Tuesday by beating Baylor, 4-0-1 in the consolation finals of the inaugural East Lake Cup at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga.

Men's basketball
Sophomore guard Robert Cartwright sustained a compound fracture in his forearm during a routine drill on Monday and will be lost indefinitely, Stanford men's basketball coach Johnny Dawkins said Tuesday.

Men's basketball
Sophomore guard Robert Cartwright sustained a compound fracture in his forearm during a routine drill on Monday and will be lost indefinitely, Stanford men's basketball coach Johnny Dawkins said Tuesday.

Cardinal corner
Stanford will open the 2015-16 season ranked 16th in the Associated Press women's basketball poll, the organization announced Tuesday. It's the 16th consecutive season the Cardinal has appeared in the preseason AP rankings.

The Stanford women's soccer team swept Pac-12 honors this week after honorees Jordan DiBiasi, Alana Cook and Jane Campbell helped in shutout victories against No. 16 USC and UCLA that earned the Cardinal the conference title.

The Menlo College men's soccer team has its first GSAC all-conference players in program history. The All-GSAC team presented by Under Armour, as voted on by the conferences head coaches, included junior standouts Eli Bunton and Alex Coates-McDowall after the duo helped the Oaks to a winning season in 2015.

Indicating what could be a major shift to limit future development in Palo Alto, some City Council members indicated Monday night that they might support sweeping changes to city policy on commercial growth.

Monday's prep roundup
The postseason in water polo is officially under way and the Menlo School girls have earned the right to play another day.

Stanford reverses Title IX investigation conclusion, lifts 10-year campus ban
A civil case filed earlier this year against Joe Lonsdale, founder of Palo Alto software company Palantir, by a former girlfriend and Stanford University student who accused him of sexual assault and abuse, has been dismissed, as has a counterclaim Lonsdale filed in response, according to court documents filed Monday.

College golf
The Stanford men's golf team was tied for first with Washington following the opening day of the Gifford Collegiate on Monday at La Costa Country Club in Carlsbad.

Incident occurs at Page Mill Road intersection with Christopher Lane, near Old Page Mill Road
A 52-year-old man on a bicycle who was fatally struck and killed by a car just outside of Palo Alto Tuesday morning has been identified as Jeffrey Donnelly of Palo Alto, the Santa Clara County Coroner's office confirmed on Tuesday night.

Sam Werner emphatically scored his first career goal, but host Washington held the Cardinal in check the rest of the way, rallying to beat No. 4 Stanford, 2-1, in a Pac-12 Conference match Monday night.

Board convenes for special budget session this week
Full-day kindergarten, world-language instruction at the elementary schools and a new high school counseling program are just some of the many proposed programs the Palo Alto school board will discuss at a special budget session Tuesday night.

Kyra Carusa stole a goal and Megan Turner produced her first goal to help the third-ranked Stanford women's soccer team beat visiting UCLA, 2-0, on Sunday to claim the outright Pac-12 Conference title.

Survival. That's how you win football games on the road in the rain when seemingly everything is stacked against you. There won't be many style points attached to Stanford's 30-28 victory against feisty Washington State on Saturday night in the Palouse, but it's irrelevant. Escaping with a win was the only goal.

City wants last night's dinner composted, not buried in the landfill
In a city where good enough is rarely good enough, a plan is afoot to make it mandatory for Palo Alto's apartment dwellers, restaurants and other businesses to stop tossing their leftover food into the trash and instead to put it in composting bins for pickup.

Kevin Hogan rushed for 112 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns as Stanford rallied to beat host Washington State, 30-28, in a Pac-12 football contest on Saturday. Conrad Ukropina connected on a 19-yard field goal with 1:54 left for the margin of victory.

College notes
Freshman Lizzie Lacy from Menlo School recorded a time of 21:48 to capture the NESCAC individual title as the Amherst women's cross country team finished fourth overall at the 2015 NESCAC Championship Saturday afternoon in Middleton, Conn.

Bret Bonanni has secured his place in Stanford men's water polo history. The senior leader scored six goals to lead the No. 5 Cardinal to a 12-8 victory over No. 8 Long Beach State on Saturday afternoon at the Campus Pool in Long Beach.

Cardinal corner
The seventh-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team will hit the road knowing there's still plenty at stake in the Pac-12 Conference. The Cardinal just need to forget the road has not been kind, which may be easy following Friday's action.

Slater Meehan and Jordan Morris each scored in the final 10 minutes and the fourth-ranked Stanford men's soccer team defeated host Oregon State, 2-0, in a conference contest Friday night, clinching a share of the Pac-12 title.

Aisling Cuffe won her second Pac-12 women's cross country championship in three years and Sean McGorty was the men's runner-up, as they led Stanford to a pair of top-three team finishes Friday in Colfax, Wash.

Stanford senior Aisling Cuffe won her second Pac-12 women's cross country championship in three years and Sean McGorty was the men's runner-up, as they led Stanford to a pair of top-three team finishes on Friday in Colfax, Wash.

M-A takes over first place
With Sacred Heart Prep seniors Mason Randall and Andrew Daschbach possibly playing in the final home game of their high school football careers, it was no surprise the three-year starters once again played a major role in another Gators' victory.

Weekend prep roundup
The first half of the high school water polo season is over. Now it's time for the second half -- the postseason. Based on results from this past weekend, it appears the Sacred Heart Prep boys and girls are ready to make runs at yet more Central Coast Section Division II titles.

A lot of familiar faces and rivals from the 2015 season will be on hand for the Central Coast Section Girls Golf Championships on Tuesday at Rancho Canada (East Course) in Carmel Valley.

Thursday's prep roundup
The Menlo-Atherton girls probably didn't know it at the time, but their 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20 volleyball victory over visiting Sequoia on Thursday night wrapped up the PAL Bay Division regular-season title earlier than expected.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Nov. 1.

Device found in dirt lot near Palo Alto's trash hauler's facilities
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad detonated what turned out to be a fake pipe bomb near GreenWaste of Palo Alto on Thursday morning, according to police.

Mountain View back on top of the number of sales list
After zero sales a few weeks back, Mountain View surges to the top of the number of sales list with 19 this week.

Josh Garnett and Kyle Murphy are two of the reasons why guys like Kevin Hogan, Christian McCaffrey, Barry Sanders and Remound Wright are enjoying banner years and No. 8 Stanford is dominating Time of Possession in the Pac-12 Conference football statistics.

Stanford joins the list of local sales
This week, Stanford joins the list of sales locations with the $3.2 million sale of 907 Lathrop Place.

500 University Ave. project totaling more than $13 million
Big bucks are going into 500 University Ave., totaling at least $13,858,000. Work being done at the site includes demolishing a single-story commercial building and laying the foundation for a below-grade parking garage for a three-story office/retail building.

Stanford roundup
Jordan DiBiasi produced her third game-winning goal Thursday night to lift the No. 4 Stanford women's team to a 1-0 victory over visiting No. 16 USC, clinching at least a share of the Pac-12 title, the 10th conference title in its storied history.

Stanford hosts annual Race against PH
This Sunday, Nov. 1, Stanford University hosts the annual Race against PH, a 5K fun run and walk to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension and funding for medical research.

San Francisco South Asian Film Festival returns to Palo Alto
From India to Pakistan to Sri Lanka, the San Francisco South Asian Film Festival presented by 3rd i brings movies from South Asia and the diaspora to Palo Alto this Sunday, Nov. 1.

Single-family homes are being converted into daily rentals, shared housing
Residents turned out to a College Terrace Residents Association meeting earlier this month to raise the issue of homes being rented out on daily and weekly bases, despite the city's ordinance that requires a 30-day minimum stay.

Last call for native gardens, November cooking classes, spooky science, document shredding event and winter gardening course
This week includes a last call for native garden submissions, a variety of cooking classes in November, a spooky science class for kids on Nov. 1, a document shredding event through the city on Nov. 7 and a course on winter gardening also on Nov. 7.

New tutoring program supports young East Palo Alto, low-income students
The Palo Alto school district and one East Palo Alto youth program think -- and hope -- one-on-one, targeted tutoring provided to disadvantaged students in their very first years of school will help reduce the achievement gap.

'Make a Difference Day' volunteers in Palo Alto demonstrate how people can make an impact
Most of us raised in the 1960s-70s era well remember when renowned cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead gave the world some sage advice: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Petros fights the system for victims' justice
Margaret Petros is a tiny, dark-haired woman whose personal strength is immediately apparent when one meets her. The mother of three has used that strength for more than two decades to help victims of violent crime, not only one-to-one but throughout California by changing state law.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, catch the San Francisco South Asian Film Festival in Palo Alto, enter a bike rack design competition for the City of Los Altos and hear Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks discuss her new novel, "The Secret Chord."

Ancient people of the Near East now struggle with exile after seven millennia in their homeland
The modern Assyrians are descendants of a people who date back nearly 7,000 years to before the rise of the ancient Mesopotamian civilizations in the Near East.

Cross country
Stanford's Aisling Cuffe was named Pac-12 Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as announced by the conference Thursday. She will lead the Cardinal into the conference championship meet on Friday in Washington state.

Immigrants fleeing from persecution because of their faith, ethnicity
Margaret Petros, executive director of Palo Alto-based nonprofit Mothers Against Murder, and a small group that includes an attorney, a therapist and church leaders are helping a handful of Assyrian Christian refugees obtain asylum in the United States.

Classical Indian dance company to perform operatic ballet
Jealous gods, greedy demons, flirtatious romances, fiery battles, magic powers and fabled elixirs: All this drama, music and more is featured in "Samudra Manthan: Churning of the Milky Ocean," a classical Indian operatic ballet presented this Sunday, Nov. 1, in Woodside.

Peninsula Roller Girls practice the art, sport of roller derby
Redwood City's Peninsula Roller Girls are looking to induct newcomers to their sport: a discipline that welcomes women from all walks of life.

Palo Alto's Sushirrito draws crowds with sushi-burrito hybrids
A small Bay Area chain that serves sushi in burrito form, Sushirrito is the epitome of trendy food, and lunchtime lines out the door attest to its popularity.

Prep roundup
As expected, the Sacred Heart Prep girls, Castilleja girls and Menlo School boys put the finishing touches on their regular-season water polo titles on Wednesday. The SHP boys, however, did not.

Early next month the public will be able to comment on the proposed changes to Caltrain fares and station parking fees, Caltrain officials said Wednesday.

Unswayed by proposal for bus-only lanes, council members urge VTA to study more alternatives
A proposal to create bus-only lanes on El Camino Real between Palo Alto and San Jose has hit a political speed bump, with a committee of elected officials from cities along the corridor coming out against the controversial reconfiguration and requesting an analysis of new alternatives.

The Stanford women's volleyball team swept visiting Arizona State, 25-17, 25-23, 25-9, in a Pac-12 Conference match Wednesday. The 14th-ranked Sun Devils, who beat Stanford in four sets nearly four weeks ago, had a chance to move into a tie with the Cardinal in the conference standings.

Charming and kid-friendly
Palo Alto's Walnut Grove stands out for its signature Eichler and Burke and Wyatt homes and its hallmark single-story structures, but the tiny neighborhood frequently finds itself lumped in with nearby Greenmeadow.

Menlo Park celebrates the spookiest holiday of the year
Looking to get Halloween started early this year? Don your costume and head out to Menlo Park's Halloween Hoopla on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Redwood City celebrates Halloween early
Downtown Redwood City will be transformed into a Halloween headquarters on Thursday, Oct. 29, when "Scare on the Square" comes to Courthouse Square.

Even the Indianapolis Colts need more than just Luck sometimes after former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck completed 23 or 44 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns last weekend. Despite that effort, the Colts dropped a 27-21 decision to New Orleans in Week 7 of the National Football League season.

Asher Waldfogel wins a spot on the Planning and Transportation Commission; Peter Baltay to join the Architectural Review Board
With the relationship between the City Council and the Planning and Transportation Commission hitting a low in recent months, the council on Monday night appointed a new member that it hopes will help restore cooperation between the two bodies.

For a team that had won eight straight Central Coast Section Division II water polo titles, it was an inauspicious start to the 2015 season for the Sacred Heart Prep girls.

Tuesday's prep roundup
The Menlo-Atherton girls extended their lead in the PAL Bay Division volleyball race with a little help on Tuesday night as the Bears topped visiting Burlingame while second-place Carlmont was upset by Aragon.

Palo Alto school board questions how to approach persistent dissatisfaction with high school counseling services
After four surveys that have yielded the same results  that there is a gap between counseling services at Palo Alto and Gunn high schools  and one committee that spent a school year analyzing how to close that gap at Gunn, with its recommendations largely languishing, some board members are wondering whether a proposal to convene yet another counseling committee is the right route to take.

School district takes new tack on pending civil rights investigations
The Palo Alto school board gave the green light to Superintendent Max McGee on Tuesday night to take a first step toward potential resolution of two separate federal sexual-harassment investigations at the district's high schools by authorizing him to invite the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to the district for a conversation.

Football notebook
Saturday's football game will be Stanford's first in Pullman since Mike Leach took over the Washington State program in 2012. The Cougars chose to play their 2013 game against Stanford in Seattle. The odd-year games have been at Stanford Stadium.

While speeding ahead on some projects, city takes new direction on others
From Homer Avenue in the north to Charleston Road in the south, Palo Alto's elaborate system of bike boulevards continues to morph and expand, at times in ways not previously foreseen.

Palo Alto committee considers banning board members from also serving as applicants
The revolving door between Palo Alto City Hall and the high-stakes world of private development is opaque and, for local watchdogs, highly problematic. On Tuesday night, a City Council committee considered ways to strengthen the city's rules around conflicts of interest for city staff and commissioners.

It was a good news, bad news kind of day for the Gunn girls at the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League golf tournament on Tuesday at the par-71 Santa Teresa Golf Course in San Jose.

Taylor Davidson has enjoyed a successful career playing tennis at Stanford. The junior won 29 matches last year, including an 18-3 record in dual meets, mostly from the No. 2 singles slot. Until Tuesday, Davidson had never won a tournament title.

Council approves mandatory process for projects seeking zone changes
Seeking to add some transparency to the city's development process, Palo Alto officials on Monday unanimously instituted a new rule that requires developers seeking zone changes to participate in special "pre-screening" hearings in front of the City Council.

Stanford women's volleyball alumna Logan Tom was named the Pac-12 Player of the Century, as announced Monday night when the Pac-12 Networks revealed the Pac-12 All-Century Women's Volleyball roster on 'Pac-12 Sports Report'.

School board to discuss new counseling survey results
A new counseling survey administered at both Palo Alto and Gunn high schools again indicates low rates of student satisfaction with services and a need for the district to take a new approach to addressing a longstanding problem.

KIPP Bay Area Schools will seek to open school in 2017
A leading charter school organization said Monday it would seek to open a new elementary school in East Palo Alto in the fall of 2017.

Two OCR cases remain pending at Paly, Gunn high schools
More than a year after the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened two separate sexual-harassment investigations at Palo Alto and Gunn high schools, both cases remain pending. Rather than continue to wait for an outcome, Palo Alto Unified Superintendent Max McGee is proposing a new course of action: Work with OCR to seek early resolution for both cases.

City Council moves ahead with 'aspirational' resolution to promote more physical activity, food access
Palo Alto's newest official priority is tricky to define and difficult to oppose. But in voicing support for a resolution Monday, the City Council decided that "Healthy Cities" should be more than a feel-good priority, even if feeling good is a critical component.

College tennis
David Wilczynski gave Stanford tennis one USTA/ITA regional tournament victory on Monday. Taylor Davidson will be looking to add two more on Tuesday.

Junior Jordan Morris continues to deliver for the third-ranked Stanford men's soccer team. Celebrating his 21st birthday on Monday night, the Cardinal forward scored for the sixth time in his past seven collegiate games and added an assist on his team's first goal to lead Stanford past visiting San Diego State, 3-1, at Cagan Stadium in a Pac-12 match.

'The time for innovation is now,' parents tell board
The Palo Alto school district office was imbued with excitement and enthusiasm on Monday night as both the school board and community members agreed that the moment is ripe to open a new, innovative middle and high school in Palo Alto.

Cardinal corner
Stanford senior defender Brandon Vincent is one of 10 men's soccer student-athletes selected as finalists for the Senior CLASS Award in collegiate soccer, it was announced Monday.

Discipline for streaking includes suspension, meeting with Palo Alto police officers
Two streaking incidents at Palo Alto High School last week were the first since the administration, led by Principal Kim Diorio, cracked down on the student tradition in the 2013-14 school year.

New public art work approved for El Camino site
Palo Alto's Public Art Commission has approved a new work by Los Angeles-based public artist Rob Ley to adorn the side of a building slated for construction at El Camino Real and Sherman Avenue.

College volleyball
Stanford middle blocker Merete Lutz and opposite Hayley Hodson have been selected the Pac-12 Defensive Player and Freshman of the Week, Commissioner Larry Scott announced Monday.

Of local note
Menlo School grad John Wilson came up with 13 saves in goal to help the Johns Hopkins men's water polo team defeat MIT, 11-9, on Sunday to win its 16th CWPA Division III Championship in New London, Ct.

Stanford will be well-represented on Monday morning when semifinal competition gets underway in singles and doubles at the USTA/ITA Northwest Regional Championships at Stanford's Taube Family Tennis Center.

Police investigating, but no arrests made yet in homicide
East Palo Alto Police are investigating a shooting that left a 31-year-old city resident dead Sunday night.

Cardinal corner
Jordan DiBiasi broke a scoreless tie 15 minutes into the second half and the fourth-ranked Stanford women's soccer team won its eighth straight, beating host Washington, 3-0, in a Pac-12 Conference contest Sunday in Seattle.

Of the lasting images from Saturday night's 31-14 victory against Washington, one stands alone. It happened so quickly, you might have missed it. It will be replayed in the film rooms of upcoming opponents and NFL scouts, and showed why Stanford senior left guard Joshua Garnett might be the best player in the country at his position.

Enrollment management subcommittee to present preliminary research, proposals on Monday
A school district committee charged with looking at how to better manage enrollment in Palo Alto Unified is making a preliminary recommendation that the district open a new, innovative middle and high school at Cubberley Community Center.

Prep water polo
It goes without saying that the best boys water polo teams are located in Southern California. That was evident at the 10th annual North-South Water Polo Challenge that saw Mater Dei edge defending champion Harvard-Westlake, 11-10, in the championship match on Saturday at Sacred Heart Prep.

Halloween trick or treating to take over boulevard
Palo Alto police are advising that California Avenue will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

There is always a lot at stake when Menlo-Atherton and Sacred Heart Prep meet on the football field, but there was a laundry list of reasons the Bears were especially amped-up to play their cross-town rivals this season.

Brandon Vincent converted a penalty kick to tie the game and third-ranked Stanford held off a fierce challenge from visiting UCLA to hang onto a 2-2 draw in a Pac-12 Conference men's soccer match Friday night.

Friday prep football
In a crucial showdown for second place in the PAL Ocean Division, Menlo School lost its final home football game of the year in a 35-21 setback to King's Academy on Friday.

Sacred Heart Prep assured itself of no worse than a fourth-place finish in the 10th annual North-South Water Polo Challenge following a pair of two-goal victories during the opening rounds Friday in Atherton.

Sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey exploded on the national scene last week by rushing for a school-record 243 yards against UCLA and leads the nation in all-purpose yardage, averaging 253.0/game. His 369 all-purpose yards were the most by any FBS player this season.

Couple partners with Ravenswood Family Health Center to create new integrated health-education model
Philanthropist couple Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are investing in yet another educational venture, this time in their own backyard: a private, pre-K through eighth-grade school in East Palo Alto that will integrate health and education to serve disadvantaged children.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Oct. 26.

Prep roundup
Avenging its only league loss, the Menlo School girls moved into a tie for first place in the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) volleyball race with crucial victory over first-place Harker on Thursday night.

Women's soccer
Senior Haley Rosen gave the fourth-ranked Stanford women's soccer team an early advantage and then helped make sure they left Pullman with a victory.

Stanford sophomore All-American swimmer Simone Manuel will redshirt the 2015-16 season, as announced Thursday by women's swimming head coach Greg Meehan. Manuel is in the process of training for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Christian McCaffrey for the Heisman Trophy? He's one of the nine candidates currently listed on the Heisman's official (Heisman.com) site. Stanford senior cornerback Ronnie Harris is all for it.

Residents turn to Nextdoor.com's Treat Map for Halloween goodies and spooky houses
Andrea Edelman is making sure trick-or-treaters will know where to find her. Besides her home's Halloween decorations, she has marked her home on a trick-or-treating map created by Nextdoor.com, a website that connects residents within neighborhoods.

Tree care makes the news again
The City of Palo Alto Planning & Community Environment Department approves a change to tree wells. Trees make the news again.

Neighborhood eyesores reduced to rubble this week
College Terrace resident Lucille Mellish made headlines in April after the Palo Alto Historic Resources Board declined her petition to remove a dilapidated home she owned from the city's Historic Inventory so that she could demolish it. This week, she prevailed.

32 percent of sales surpass $3 million
This week, 11 of the 34 sales surpassed $3 million, which is the threshold of the ultra-luxury market.

Hands-on learning supplements classroom theory
Palo Alto's Repair Café inspires Garwin to start an Apprentice Program, which offers students, graduates and those with an interest in learning a chance to work alongside experienced fixers.

After more than two years of fruitless negotiations, two sides head to mediation
Nearly four decades after the Palo Alto Fire Department and Stanford University entered into a partnership for fire-protection services, the two sides have hit a rocky patch in their relationship and are preparing for possible litigation.

From mechanical chickens to bicycles, volunteers mend them all
In a society focused on the latest and greatest products, Palo Alto's Repair Café takes a stand for preservation and thrift.

$18.5M sale in Los Altos Hills
The highest sale of the week comes from Los Altos Hills with a $18.5 million sale. Read the rest of the real estate numbers to see how other Palo Alto-area locations compared.

Quattro launches BYTEnights
Upscale Italian restaurant Quattro, located inside East Palo Alto's Four Seasons Hotel, has announced the launch of a new after-hours series. Starting on Thursday, Oct. 22, BYTEnights will feature specialty cocktails, valet parking and music by DJ Kenfused.

This month's book news
This month, local authors release books on the history of Silicon Valley design, forensic psychology thrillers, true stories of drug addiction and more.

Halloween celebration, flower arrangement lessons, scary creatures course, call for gardens and educational weekends for kids
This week includes a Halloween magic at Gamble Garden, a flower arranging lesson from The Garden Club of Los Altos, a class about spiders and bats from Master Gardeners, a call for local native gardens and educational weekends for kids, starting with spooky science.

Veggie Garden's menu is a vegan's guilty pleasure
Located at 2464 W. El Camino Real, two-year-old Veggie Garden serves affordable vegan Chinese food in a clean, modern setting. Just don't expect a handful of bamboo shoots nestled on a bed of raw kale: These dishes are rich.

East Palo Alto resident was under the influence of methamphetamine
An East Palo Alto man who brutally beat an 89-year-old priest with his own metal cane pleaded no contest to charges of felony physical elder abuse and felony assault in San Mateo Superior Court on Wednesday, Oct. 21, the San Mateo County District Attorney's office said.

For the ninth straight season, Stanford's Taube Family Tennis Stadium will serve as the host site for the USTA/ITA Northwest Regional Championships when play gets underway Friday.

West Bay Opera celebrates 60th season with Verdi's 'Rigoletto'
Sixty years after it was founded, Palo Alto's West Bay Opera continues to thrive, attracting major international talent and staging grand operas on an intimate scale.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, carve a pumpkin, don a costume, get spooked at a haunted house or catch a Halloween-themed concert.

Computer legend 'took the impossible and made it possible'
"Steve Jobs," the movie that was written by Aaron Sorkin and opened in Palo Alto last week, artfully captures the character of the computer legend, said Jobs' onetime publicist, who is among those portrayed in the movie.

Prep roundup
Castilleja bounced back from its first golf loss of the season last week and wrapped up its second straight West Bay Athletic League dual-match title with a 204-219 victory over Harker at Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.

Stanford senior setter Madi Bugg was taking out her frustration when she decided to slap the ball over the net instead of setting it to one of the powerful hitters on the court. Whatever the motivation, it worked.

Computer legend 'took the impossible and made it possible'
"Steve Jobs," the movie that was written by Aaron Sorkin and opened in Palo Alto last week, artfully captures the character of the computer legend, said Jobs' onetime publicist, who is among those portrayed in the movie.

The fourth-ranked Stanford women's soccer goes on the road for the last time during the final regular-season this week, traveling to the Pacific Northwest for match-ups against No. 25 Washington State on Thursday and Washington on Sunday.

Gamble Garden hosts Halloween festivities
Gather the little ones and head to Gamble Garden this Sunday for a Halloween magic show, costume contest, pumpkins and more.

As Palo Alto commission pans council's policies, council members question the commission's motives
In theory, the Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission serves at the pleasure of the City Council. In practice, pleasure has been in short supply for both parties of late.

Palo Alto schools take part in national bullying prevention event for the third year
Across Palo Alto on Wednesday, students, teachers, staff, administrators and parents donned orange shirts  the color of Unity Day  and participated in a range of activities for the national bullying-prevention and education event.

Palo Alto junior Kent Slaney and Gunn senior Gillian Meeks ran to individual titles and helped their respective teams win crowns at the third SCVAL cross-country meet of the season on Tuesday at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale.

MARTY developed to research how cars perform in extreme conditions
It may not time travel, but Stanford University engineers unveiled a DeLorean modified to be self-driving, electric, and drift like a pro driver on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Policy and Services Committee to discuss possible exemption for employees who get tips
Palo Alto's new minimum-wage law officially became a reality on Monday night, though in formally approving the new ordinance the City Council agreed to reconsider its application to tipped employees.

Saturday event kicks off at Palo Alto City Hall
Generations of local volunteers will join Palo Alto nonprofit Youth Community Service on Saturday, Oct. 24, for a day of volunteer projects benefiting the environment, seniors and needy families and individuals.

Tuesday's prep roundup
The Gunn girls put the finishing touches on their third straight Santa Clara Valley Athletic League golf title with a 244-345 dual-match win over Wilcox at Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club on Tuesday.

Stanford Shopping Center is entering its final phase of renovation, and on Tuesday, Simon Property Group, which owns the center, unveiled a list of 10 retail stores among more than 25 new stores expected to open in the spring of 2016.

Victims can collect up to $1,000, new rule states
Motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and equestrians can now file a civil lawsuit over hostile behavior on the road -- and collect up to $1,000 if successful -- thanks to an ordinance approved by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 20.

Getting solid performances throughout the lineup, the ninth-ranked Stanford women's golf team scored a wire-wire seven-stroke victory over USC on Tuesday in the 54-hole Stanford Intercollegiate hosted by Condoleezza Rice.

Football notebook
Francis Owusu has had a television crew following him the past few days and he acknowledged enjoying the attention. His older brother, former Stanford star Chris Owusu, now playing with the New York Jets in the NFL, fielded more questions about Francis' catch than anything else.

Of local note
With senior setter and captain Kimmy Whitson from Palo Alto High leading the way with a near triple-double, the Pacific women's volleyball team held off St. Mary's in five sets on Saturday night at the Spanos Center.

Stanford's Teen Health Van aims to meet adolescents where they are
The Teen Health Van, now in its 20th year of operation, is a mobile medical clinic that aims to reach medically underserved youth, ages 10 to 25 years old, many of whom are homeless, uninsured or underinsured, at-risk and with little or no access to health care.

There's nothing like a good grudge match. And, when it pits two of the best teams in the nation, even better. That's just one story line for this weekend's 10th annual North-South Water Polo Challenge at the Sacred Heart Prep and Menlo-Atherton pools.

Menlo College soccer swept the Golden State Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week awards as men's keeper Alex Coates-McDowall and women's keeper Kaylin Swart earned the honors.

Mountain View native pursues life on stage
As a boy, Nick Lazzarini attended Springer Elementary School and took dance classes through the City of Mountain View's Recreation Division. Now, he's got his own L.A.-based commercial dance company.

Stanford junior forward Jordan Morris was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for games from Oct. 12-18, the conference announced Tuesday. The honor is the second of Morris' career, the second of the season for the Cardinal and Stanford's 24th all-time player of the week selection.

City Council agrees to form a citizen committee to help craft 2016 measure
Normally out of sight and out of mind, Palo Alto's storm drains will be in the public spotlight in fall 2016 as part of a special election that the City Council agreed to pursue Monday night.

Former Palo Alto school board member to be feted on Oct. 22
A former Palo Alto elementary school teacher and school board member will receive the Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto's Angel Award on Oct. 22 for her work as executive director of the nonprofit organization DreamCatchers.

New legal-services position becomes point of contention on school board
Palo Alto Unified School District Superintendent Max McGee has decided to delay the hiring of general counsel after disagreement on the school board over the proper relationship between its members and the new in-house attorney.

The ninth-ranked Stanford women's golf team maintained its lead Monday at the Stanford Intercollegiate hosted by Condoleezza Rice. The defending national champion Cardinal improved six strokes at Stanford Golf Course, combining for a four-player total of 3-under-par 281.

Palo Alto officials vote to support senior-service nonprofit, despite division over funding source
With more Palo Altans entering their golden years, the city's main senior-service provider is looking to turn back time by rejuvenating its historic facility to serve its growing customer base. On Monday, Avenidas took a big step toward realizing this vision when the City Council agreed to contribute $5 million to the cause.

Ladera couple creates a kitchen for today
A Ladera couple decided the time was right to transform their 1960s kitchen into an open space for today.

Strategies for the seller, buyer
What do home sellers want? Obviously, the highest price and the best terms. What do buyers want? The lowest market price possible on the most favorable terms. Both buyers and sellers must understand pricing strategies in the present market in order to reach their goal.

Cardinal football
Stanford sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey was named the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, as announced Monday.

Carnival will feature trick-or-treating, costume contest and more
Kick off the Halloween celebrations with the 21st annual California Avenue Trick or Treat and Blossom Halloween Carnival on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This week's retail news
Beyt, located at Palo Alto's Town & Country Village shopping center, designs and builds a range of home decor items out of salvage recovered from the aftermath of civil war in Lebanon.

Stanford product Patrick Rodgers made his PGA Tour debut as a member at the season-opening Fry's.com Open in Napa over the weekend at Silverado Country Club, netting a sixth-place finish.

Cardinal corner
Stanford sophomore Corey Baird scored his first two goals of the season, Jordan Morris added a tally for the fifth consecutive game and the No. 3 Cardinal tacked another win to its sterling record, this time beating San Diego State 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.

College golf
Juniors Casey Danielson and Quirine Eijkenboom carded even-par 71s at Stanford Golf Course on Sunday to lift the ninth-ranked Cardinal to the first-day lead in the Stanford Intercollegiate hosted by Condoleezza Rice. Stanford's Maverick McNealy shot a final round 5-under 67 at the U.S. Collegiate Championship at the Golf Club of Georgia on Sunday to jump 16 spots and finish in a four-way tie for first.

Sophomore fullback Daniel Marx doesn't have a carry this season, and that's just fine with him. His job is to clear the path for teammates Christian McCaffrey, Remound Wright, Barry Sanders and Bryce Love, and he did another superb job last Thursday night, helping Stanford rush for more than 300 yards in a dominating 56-35 victory over visiting UCLA.

Plans moving ahead to find an operator for animal services and fundraise for a new facility
A website petition claiming that Palo Alto plans to close its animal shelter prompted city officials to issue a press release this week denying the accusation.

Before Pinewood's final home football game of the season against Trinity Christian, the Panthers' small, three-man senior class of Kyle Murphy, Dominick Twombly and Aidan Lucero was honored during a brief pregame ceremony.

Work on the San Francisquito Creek Bridge to cause noise, potential delays
Part of West Bayshore Road will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday while Caltrans contractors remove temporary bridgework from beneath the deck of the recently constructed bridge over San Francisquito Creek, according to the City of Palo Alto.

Friday roundup
Menlo-Atherton junior running back Jordan Mims set a school single-game record with 324 rushing yards and added four touchdowns as the Bears earned a 31-10 PAL Bay Division Division football victory over visiting Aragon Friday night.

Cardinal corner
Stanford freshman Tegan McGrady grew up in San Jose watching the likes of former Cardinal great Kelley O'Hara. To receive a compliment from the current U.S. national women's soccer team member made her day.

College swimming
For the second straight season, the Stanford women's swimming and diving team notched a fall victory against Utah, this time by a score of 177-112 over the visiting Utes at Avery Aquatic Center on Friday afternoon. The Cardinal won 12 events and had the top time in three other exhibition swims.

Stanford junior Sean McGorty made a late bid for victory at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational on Friday, finishing third to lead the Cardinal.

Palo Alto council hopes at least 15 percent of proceeds from 2016 measure would be used for rail project
Calling it a critical project not just for Palo Alto but for commuters throughout the Santa Clara County, city officials on Tuesday night made a fresh pitch for grade separation of the rail corridor throughout the county and argued that at least 15 percent of the proceeds of a proposed countywide tax measure should be dedicated for this effort.

At its inception, Palo Alto was named after a 110-foot tall, over 1,000-years-old coast redwood tree called "El Palo Alto," which loosely translates to "tall tree." Today, in the midst of California's drought, city staff and tree experts are encouraging residents to go back to their roots and care for these trees from which the city gets its name.

Crews to finish repairs on Monday
A Palo Alto intersection has reopened Friday evening, after a water main break caused it to be closed for most of the day, according to police.

Christian McCaffrey rushed for a school record 243 yards and scored four times, Francis Owusu made a catch for the ages and the 15th-ranked Stanford football team downed visiting UCLA, 56-28, in a Pac-12 Conference contest Thursday night.

Thursday's prep roundup
Palo Alto's first water polo meeting with rival Gunn this season did not go well for the Paly boys last month. The Vikings were missing two starters and suffered a nine-goal loss as Gunn seniors Calder Hilde-Jones and Christian Znidarsic combined for eight.

Gabe Sanders, an assistant coach at Boston University the past six seasons, has joined the Stanford track and field staff to coach the sprints and hurdles.

Silicon Valley African Film Festival features screenings, marketplace and more
The sixth annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival returns to Mountain View this weekend featuring film screenings from around the continent, an African marketplace, live musical performances and more.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Oct. 19.

Small structures seen as partial solution for city's gaping housing problem
They are small, relatively affordable and can be built without zone changes or public hearings. Now, Palo Alto officials are preparing to take a closer look at in-law apartments -- often known as "granny units," "secondary units" or "accessory-dwelling units" -- as a partial solution for the city's colossal housing shortage.

City Council to consider request for $5 million from senior-services nonprofit
As Palo Alto's senior population continues to expand, the downtown nonprofit that serves this growing population is trying to do the same.

Oshman JCC hosts Hazon Farm to Table Food Fest
Head to the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto this Sunday for a day of interactive, hands-on activities in celebration of the Jewish food movement.

Consultants and downtown employers consider funding, branding for Palo Alto's new Transportation Management Association
Right now, they are a group of downtown stakeholders and transportation experts debating pilot programs and funding structures. Sometime next year, the group is slated to become a full-fledged nonprofit dedicated to tackling the city's biggest problem: traffic.

Efforts include clearing creek of debris and vegetation, new flood-warning website
Warnings that flooding might not be contained if the predicted El Nino hits the Bay Area this winter, public officials said they are doing everything possible to reduce hazards to homes and residents if the notoriously volatile San Francisquito Creek surges out of its banks.

Can budding Palo Alto nonprofit change the way people get to work?
As traffic and parking problems continue to plague downtown Palo Alto, the city is pinning its hopes on a new nonprofit tasked with steering people away from their cars and toward other modes of transportation. But before the Transportation Management Association can solve the city's biggest problem, it has to figure out how to sustain its own existence.

Wednesday's prep roundup
Two golf showdowns took place on a warm Wednesday afternoon to all but decide two league races involving four of the top girls teams in the Central Coast Section. Castilleja had a shot and missed while Gunn, perhaps appropriately, was on target.

Purse-snatcher sought after Wednesday morning incident in downtown Palo Alto
Palo Alto police are seeking a man who allegedly robbed a woman of her purse near the University Avenue transit center shortly after she got off the bus early Wednesday morning.

Eichler-style neighborhood meets skepticism, earns limited victory in front of Planning and Transportation Commission
Just weeks after they endorsed a proposal to ban new two-story homes in the Los Arboles neighborhood, Palo Alto's planning commissioners took a decidedly more skeptical stance toward a similar request from the residents of Greer Park North.

Home in Old Palo Alto saved from wrecking ball
Kim and Bob Stetson team with contractor Stuart Morgan to save the couple's Old Palo Alto home from a wrecking ball.

Education opportunities, a clean environment and jobs bring Chinese buyers to Palo Alto
Following a recent federal extension on business and tourism visas for Chinese citizens from one to 10 years, Palo Alto could see an even larger boost in Chinese home buyers.

Woodside family remodels to make property work for everyone
Betsy Hobson is thrilled to share a new routine with her next-door neighbor, her 2 1/2-year-old granddaughter. That's just one of the many perks Hobson enjoys after moving out of the house she raised her kids in so that her daughter could afford to come back to Woodside with her own family.

When this generation buys, and why
Millennial homeownership has hit an all-time low  34.6 percent. Local owners and renters share their stories of what they decided to do.

Location, lot drive ultra-luxury market prices
It probably won't surprise anyone to know that home prices on the Midpeninsula are high and getting higher. And sales of "ultra-luxury" properties (costing $3 million and up) jumped this summer.

After their big move, H. Stanley and Ingrid Judd share their steps on how to make a move less painful if you are over 75 years old.

An estate sale makes the Judds' move to Hawaii seamless
After more than 45 years in their home in Palo Alto, H. Stanley Judd and his wife, Ingrid, decided now was the time to move to Hawaii. But, the move didn't happen overnight, nor did it happen without the help of a team.

Pricing real estate: Strategies for the seller, buyer
What do home sellers want? Obviously, the highest price and the best terms. What do buyers want? The lowest market price possible on the most favorable terms. Both buyers and sellers must understand pricing strategies in the present market in order to reach their goal.

Does advertising properties using term 'or best offer' present a fair housing issue?
Just like home sales, I want to make space for a bidding war on my rental property, so I can get as much as possible in rental income. Should I be worried about any fair housing liability here?

Water, wells and real estate prices
My front lawn, once a large lush inviting area, is beyond brown now. It looks bleached. It looks like it has been sluiced with Clorox and is yelling for its nakedness to be covered. However, I take solace in the fact that I am a good citizen.

Home prices range from six to eight figures
From August through September this year, home prices land all over the board. The highest sales were seen in Atherton and Palo Alto, recording $31 million and $30 million, respectively, according to homes sales from the Palo Alto Weekly's August and September editions.

Homebuyers seek perfect place by looking at lot size, walk score and more
Perspective homebuyers in Silicon Valley wade through many choices, even after they figure out a budget. Decision factors include what schools will children attend to how far is the commute to work.

Tree experts weigh in on saving trees while remaining water-conscious during drought
At its inception, Palo Alto was named after a 110-foot tall, over 1,000-years-old coast redwood tree called "El Palo Alto," which loosely translates to "tall tree." Today, in the midst of California's drought, city staff and tree experts are encouraging residents to go back to their roots and care for these trees from which the city gets its name.

Most sales in Menlo Park
With zero sales in Mountain View and only one in Palo Alto, Menlo Park leads sales this week with seven home sales. Learn about these home sales and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Pool demolition
A pool demolition is one way to save on water, unless the homeowners end up replacing it. Scan the rest of the building permits to learn more about what's happening in your neighborhood.

Plant sale, rhododendron workshop, bath and kitchen remodel, compost basics, fruit trees and garden submissions
This week includes a native plant sale on Oct. 17, a rhododendron workshop on Oct. 21, a bath and kitchen remodeling event on Oct. 24, a compost class on Oct. 24, a fruit tree care clinic on Oct. 24 and a call for garden submissions.

Chinese stock market woes, the RMB devaluation's impact on Silicon Valley real estate
The recent turmoil in the Asian stock markets, most notably in China, and the devaluation of the Chinese currency have evoked many questions about the likelihood of continued investment in Bay Area real estate by Chinese buyers.

Simplicity is sophistication at The Village Pub in Woodside
The Village Pub in Woodside has received one Michelin star every year since 2009, and for good reason.

This week's retail news
Beyt, located at Palo Alto's Town & Country Village shopping center, designs and builds a range of home decor items out of salvage recovered from the aftermath of civil war in Lebanon.

TheatreWorks stages outstanding production of David Auburn play
David Auburn's "Proof" is a slim, sneaky wonder of theatrical storytelling. TheatreWorks stages an outstanding production of the play now through Nov. 1 in Mountain View.

Stanford grad student uses computer science and business to advance music career
Stanford graduate student Audrey Proulx is using her education in computer science and business to support her dream of becoming a pop-star.

Efforts include public education, increased law enforcement presence
In response to recent incidents in which vehicles have been hit by commuter trains, Caltrain is working to "develop and promote new strategies for encouraging safe behavior" around its rail corridor, according to an Oct. 14 statement from the transportation agency.

Stanford and United States National Team standout Tony Azevedo (2001-04) was named the Pac-12 Men's Water Polo Player of the Century, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Cardinal corner
The Stanford women's basketeball team was picked to finish second in the Pac-12 when the conference announced the results of the preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday morning at the league's annual Media Day in San Francisco.

Palo Alto Art Center hosts Global Family Day
This Sunday, the Palo Alto Art Center hosts the free Global Family Day with hands-on art projects for all ages and live music from around the world.

Stanford men's golf head coach Conrad Ray will host a newly launched SiriusXM radio show focused on collegiate golf and the various stages of development for young players who desire to play the game at a high level.

Palo Alto High grad Joc Pederson has at least one more game to play but former Stanford standout Stephen Piscotty's run in Major League Baseball's postseason has come to an end.

New book comes with a call to action: 'talk about it'
A San Francisco psychiatrist and mental health consultant has written a comprehensive resource and educational guide on suicide risk, the concept for which was inspired in part by the youth suicide clusters in Palo Alto.

Increased traffic could start mid-afternoon, police warn
A Stanford University football game at Stanford Stadium Thursday night, Oct. 15, will likely cause heavy traffic along major streets, Palo Alto police are warning.

Superintendent to propose two new models for Gunn High School
A yearslong discussion over the comparable quality of Gunn and Palo Alto high schools' distinct counseling models returned to the school board Tuesday night, with survey results again showing a gap in satisfaction between students at the two schools.

City Council urges more collaborative process for Peninsula segment of controversial rail line
With plans for California's high-speed rail system accelerating on the Peninsula, Palo Alto officials on Tuesday ramped up their opposition to a process that they argue is moving too fast and in the wrong direction.

Fiscal watchdog served the community in numerous roles for decades
Former mayor Dick Rosenbaum, a fiscal conservative and supporter of Palo Alto's residential quality of life, has died. He was 81.

Stanford senior free safety Kodi Whitfield knew all about UCLA freshman quarterback Josh Rosen when both were attending the same middle school at Chadwick. Since high school, they've been on opposite sides of the field.

Stanford junior Stephanie Amack was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week in women's soccer, as announced by the conference Tuesday. It is the second conference weekly honor of Amack's career and the 46th overall for Stanford.

It will be quite a reunion when the New England Patriots visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in a battle of AFC division-leading teams. The game will bring together six former Stanford football players -- five for the Colts and one for the Patriots.

The annual Stanford Intercollegiate, which showcases many of the best women's golfers in the country, will be played Sunday through Tuesday at Stanford Golf Course. This year's 17-team field includes five programs ranked in the top 10, including No. 1 USC, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Northwestern, No. 6 Arizona and No. 9 Stanford.

An Oakland man who police said exposed himself to a woman in a Palo Alto park was arrested on Thursday, Oct. 8, according to a police department press release.

Of local note
Priory graduate Mariana Galvan of Santa Clara University women's soccer has been named West Coast Conference Player of the Week after scoring two double-overtime winners over the weekend.

Firefighters have extinguished a small electrical fire at Stanford Maples Pavilion, according to an emergency alert sent out to the Stanford University community.

Homemade Cooking teaches members to prepare nutritious meals
Palo Alto-based Homemade Cooking offers weekly two-hour cooking classes at which members are introduced to seasonal ingredients, taught various cooking methods and given a wide variety of healthy recipes.

Annual survey probes student, parent satisfaction
The school district's 2015 Strategic Plan survey results, which the school board will discuss Tuesday night, offers insight into students' and parents' perceptions of many of the top issues the district hopes to tackle this year, from academic consistency and classroom innovations to social-emotional well-being and communication.

Defensive honor for Wade
Stanford opposite Hayley Hodson has been tabbed the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the second straight week, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today.

City saw a large drop in aggravated assaults in 2014
After decades of notoriety, East Palo Alto's violent crime rate has plunged by 64 percent in one year, according to a newly released Federal Bureau of Investigation report.

Weekend prep roundup
After a cool morning in Fresno on Saturday, it warmed up to the point of being just plain hot with 90-plus degree heat. That, however, didn't slow Gunn senior Gillian Meeks at the Clovis Invitational held at Woodward Park.

Cardinal roundup
For the second straight match, freshman Hayley Hodson led the No. 7 Stanford women's volleyball team offensively while helping the Cardinal defeat No. 25 Oregon on Sunday at Maples Pavilion. Stanford moves to 10-4 overall and 4-2 in the Pac-12.

Palo Alto police arrest Daniel Vasquez, 23, for assault with a deadly weapon
Palo Alto police have arrested a man who they believe stabbed another man in the back in an alleyway behind Happy Donuts last month.

No. 15-ranked Stanford is well into preparation for Thursday night's nationally televised game football game on ESPN against 18th-ranked UCLA at Stanford Stadium. Both teams are coming off byes.

College soccer
Amir Bashti broke a scoreless tie and the third-ranked Stanford men's soccer team moved into first place in the Pac-12 Conference with a convincing 3-0 victory over visiting Oregon State on Sunday. Also Sunday, Andi Sullivan headed in her team-leading fifth goal of the season to lift the No. 6 Stanford women to a 1-0 victory against Oregon.

Emergency crews were delayed by heavy traffic while responding to Sept. 22 accident
Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman has released an audio recording of the Menlo Park Fire District's response to a Sept. 22 collision on U.S. Highway 101 in East Palo Alto that left a motorcyclist dead.

Cardinal corner
The third-ranked Stanford men's water polo team totaled 37 goals in a pair of victories over No. 8 Long Beach State and Concordia to advance to the semifinals of the SoCal Invitational Saturday at Burns Aquatics Center on the campus of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Menlo School quarterback Mackenzie Morehead and running back Charlie Ferguson combined for 326 total yards to lead the Knights to a 35-20 victory over visiting Woodside to open the PAL Ocean Division football season on homecoming Friday.

In the first PAL Bay Division game of the season, Sacred Heart Prep's offense looked like a well-oiled machine, racking up over 500 yards and seven touchdowns against an overmatched Terra Nova defense.

City Council to devote Oct. 13 meeting to high-speed rail, Caltrain and VTA tax
Palo Alto takes great pride in being a worldwide leader in technology and conservation, but when it comes to transportation improvements the city has always relied on the kindness  or mercy  of strangers.

Oaks roundup
Taylor Morrow scored the go-ahead goal late in the first half and the Menlo College women's soccer team held on to beat host Hope International, 2-1, in a Golden State Athletic Conference match on Thursday.

ITA Championships
Stanford sophomore Tom Fawcett finished his first round match with an ace. It was only fitting since his serve proved to be a big part of his 6-4, 6-4 victory over Miami's Piotr Lomacki at the Saint Francis Health System ITA Men's All-American Championships in Tulsa on Thursday.

Human Relations Commission event on Oct. 28 to examine relationship violence amid the wealthy
Domestic violence is the kind of issue that is often thought to afflict women in less economically well-off communities. But this often hidden crime reveals itself in black and white in the Palo Alto police log.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Oct. 12.

Two $11 million sales in Atherton
During a low week in sales (only 25), two homes sold for eight figures. They include the $11 million sales along Almendral Avenue in Atherton, which is quite the alliteration, and another $11 million sale along Juniper Drive in Atherton.

School district responds to allegations against Palo Alto High School English teacher Kevin Sharp
A timeline based on emails and other documents released to the Palo Alto Weekly by the district under Public Records Act requests.

Low number of sales around the Midpeninsula
The usual front-runners, Mountain View and Palo Alto, reported a low number of sales this week. Mountain View had only one; Palo Alto had three.

Did someone say coffee?
Employees at Tesla got a perk me up with the addition of a coffee station in this segment of building permits from the City of Palo Alto. Besides the coffee aroma, employees can enjoy new millwork, plumbing and electrical updates. Scan the rest of the building permits to learn more about what's happening in your neighborhood.

Guidelines, rules provide framework for school investigations
Federal, state and school district guidelines offer a framework for the investigation into sexual harassment.

Six incidents since Aug. 1, including one in Palo Alto
An increase in the number of vehicles hit by Caltrain commuter trains this year has transit police and at least one city police department working together to increase enforcement efforts, a Caltrain spokeswoman said Thursday.

A little inventory breathing room in Palo Alto's housing market
In looking at trends in the Palo Alto real estate market during the past six months, we see a lot of consistency with little fluctuation across most categories. One area that's made a noticeable shift recently is that of months supply of inventory.

Recent A&E news
In recent arts news, Stanford has unveiled the new home of the Department of Art and Art History -- the McMurtry Building -- while both the Palo Alto Art Center and Art in Action have received significant grants for their work in arts and education.

Even without standout Jordan Morris, the Stanford men's soccer team hopes to continue its winning ways. Morris will miss both matches this weekend as the third-ranked Cardinal hosts Washington on Friday and Oregon State on Sunday.

Property price and public schools
Young families, both local and international, are attracted to Palo Alto for its excellent public schools. However, not everyone understands what exactly good school means. Moreover, how big is the premium on homes we are paying for good public schools, and how do good schools tend to affect property price in the long run?

Convoluted sexual-harassment case against Paly teacher lingers on, more than a year later
A three-month investigation by the Palo Alto Weekly into allegations made against a Palo Alto High School English teacher has revealed conflicting conclusions reached by the district's two law firms  one of many twists and turns of a case that included a police investigation, two uncoordinated district inquiries and internal disagreements about how the matter should be handled.

Veggie dinner, library learning, flower arrangements, City Hall replant and call for gardens
This week includes a veggie dinner on Monday night, a gardening workshop at the Rinconada Library on Thursday, a flower arrangement demonstration on Oct. 16, City Hall relandscaping on Oct. 17 and a call for native gardens that lasts until the end of the month.

Local designer gives advice on creating calming interiors
In today's hurried times, a home's living space is often the only, and quickest, escape from the stress of daily life, according to interior design specialist Christina Pahl. And to turn that space into a calming interior is possible by applying Zen principles to home design.

Book club kicks off Saturday, Oct. 10, with reading and discussion of 'The New Jim Crow'
A new book club starting in Palo Alto seeks to bring readers one step closer to understanding what it's like to be in another's skin.

The current dialogue over northern Palo Alto's historic "urban forest" may mean that residents need to take more personal initiative to assure it's a full-habitat forest, not just a collection of trees.

Palo Alto mayor hopes inaugural retailers' street fair will be replicated
Call it a block party that the whole city is invited to attend. Palo Alto will kick off its inaugural Meet The Street event on Oct. 8 from 5-9 p.m., with food, fashion, music and more.

Woodside Community Theatre stages 'Chicago'
After five years of waiting, Woodside Community Theatre is finally putting on "Chicago." The show runs Oct. 16-25.

City to install 45 low-resolution cameras on prominent school corridors
Dozens of cameras will be installed on utility poles throughout Palo Alto as part of the city's latest attempt to gauge the comings and goings of local bicyclists and pedestrians.

Multidisciplinary clinic to open in Santa Clara County in eight to 12 months
Stanford Children's Health has begun to offer medical and other services to transgender children and adolescents, with an eye toward opening within the next year a more comprehensive multidisciplinary clinic to support what health providers say is a growing population.

The Menlo Park Library in the Civic Center reopened Thursday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. after being closed Tuesday evening and Wednesday after a bed bug was found on a chair, according to Menlo Park Library Director Susan Holmer.

Beds in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Sunnyvale will be available from Nov. 30 to March 31
Santa Clara County will have 255 beds available for the homeless during the winter under a program approved by the board of supervisors Tuesday.

The sixth-ranked Stanford women's soccer team play six of its final eight regular season games at home, beginning this weekend against Oregon State and Oregon.

Prep water polo
The Menlo School boys took a big step toward taking back the PAL Bay Division water polo title they lost to rival Menlo-Atherton last season by defeating the Bears, 11-8, on Wednesday in the Knights' pool.

"Or" explores the fascinating life of playwright, spy Aphra Behn
In her 2009 play, currently presented by Redwood City's Dragon Theatre, Liz Duffy Adams offers a window into the adventuresome existence of 17th-century English playwright Aphra Behn.

Palo Alto-based company illegally recorded customers and businesses
Houzz Inc., an online platform for home remodeling and design headquartered in Palo Alto, has settled a lawsuit with the State of California after violating state wiretapping and eavesdropping laws, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced.

Cardinal corner
Stanford midfielder Andi Sullivan was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week in women's soccer, as announced by the conference Tuesday.

It has been a tough few weeks for Palo Alto High cross-country coach Kelsey Feeley, who lost her father, Jerry, to leukemia on October 1. As her father's health declined recently, Feeley fortunately had her teams at Paly to fall back on for support.

Team to observe classrooms, review data and speak with students, parents and staff
A longtime special-education advocate and Harvard University Graduate School of Education professor is visiting Palo Alto this week to kick off a review he will be conducting of the school district's practices, programs and culture around students with disabilities.

Sand Hill Property Company required to pay $1,000 per day until new market is found
The developer of Edgewood Plaza is now facing a fine of $1,000 per day for not replacing the vacant grocery store formerly occupied by Fresh Market, which departed on March 31.

Tuesday's prep roundup
The Menlo School girls remained within a match of first place in the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) volleyball race with a 26-28, 25-21, 25-11, 20-25, 15-6 victory over host Sacred Heart Prep on Tuesday night.

Incident happened in July
A Palo Alto man who police said used a cellphone to photograph a woman in her bathroom in July was arrested earlier this week, according to a police department press release.

Stanford roundup
Cardinal freshman Brandon Wu finished his collegiate debut with five straight birdies Tuesday for a 3-under-par 69 at the Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational hosted by Oregon, wrapping up the three-day event at 1-under overall and tied for 34th.

Senior left guard Josh Garnett is on schedule to graduate in the spring with a degree in human biology, something he hopes will lead him into a medical career down the line. But, he's still got plenty of football left in him.

Former Stanford swimmer faces three felony counts related to alleged sexual assault
Former Stanford all-star swimmer Brock Turner will stand trial for three felony counts related to an alleged sexual assault that took place on the Stanford University campus, a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge ruled at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Palo Alto.

Case against East Palo Alto man dropped because of lack of evidence
The case of East Palo Alto resident Eric Barragan, who had been in San Mateo County jail for more than 10 months on charges of attempted murder in Menlo Park, has been dropped for a lack of evidence, according to prosecutors with the District Attorney's Office.

Menlo School will present five new inductees to the Athletics Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Saturday at 4 p.m., in the West Gym of the Athletic Center.

City commits to advocating for anti-trafficking measures, training more officers to identify 'vulnerable population'
With the 2016 Super Bowl slated to bring throngs of visitors and hospitality workers into the Bay Area, Palo Alto officials on Monday night pledged to address the darker side of the February extravaganza: an influx in human trafficking that the event is expected to generate.

Stanford women's soccer alumna Julie Foudy ('93) and head coach Paul Ratcliffe were named the Pac-12 Player and Coach of the Century, as announced by the conference Monday.

Monday's prep roundup
Castilleja took a big step toward defending its West Bay Athletic League regular-season golf title by defeating host Harker, 187-189, on Monday at Los Lagos Golf Course in San Jose.

A first down is 10 yards. A touchdown is six points. Put those two numbers together on a calendar -- as in October 6, or 10-6 -- and you get a most memorable date in modern Stanford football history.

Emergency sirens may be audible in neighboring areas
Residents and businesses near the Stanford University campus may hear emergency sirens as the university conducts a test of the campuswide AlertSU mass-notification and siren system on Thursday, Oct. 8, between noon and 1 p.m., according to a Stanford University Department of Public Safety official.

City Council urged to expand housing options during hearing on Comprehensive Plan
With home values soaring and affordable housing in short supply, Palo Alto residents appealed to the City Council on Monday night to adopt policies that would help seniors, young people and priced-out professionals stay in the city.

Enrollment committee presents draft proposals to school board, community
The chair of a school district subcommittee on elementary enrollment urged the school board and community members at a board study session Monday night to consider changing the narrative around enrollment in Palo Alto from one of urgent, continuous growth to flat, and even declining, growth.

Menlo College women's volleyball player Renn Isobe was named the Golden State Athletic Conference Defender of the Week on Monday.

Former Stanford swimmer, accused of rape, returns to Palo Alto for preliminary hearing
The woman whom former Stanford University student Brock Turner allegedly raped on campus in January appeared in court in Palo Alto on Monday for a preliminary hearing, giving sometimes emotional testimony about what she recalls happened that night.

Palo Alto High grad Joc Pederson and former Stanford standout Stephen Piscotty will begin MLB postseason play on Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals open their respective NL Divisional Series at home.

Stanford opposite Hayley Hodson has been tabbed the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, Commissioner Larry Scott announced Monday.

For walk-on running back Pat McFadden, Saturday night's 55-17 win against Arizona was the thrill of a lifetime. The junior from Sunfish Lake, Minn., received his first playing time in a Stanford uniform and rushed for 10 yards on three carries.

This week's retail news
The Nest boutique hotel comes to Palo Alto's El Camino Real, bringing the tally to four new hotels in the region this year.

Cardinal corner
Redshirt freshman Kyra Carusa knew exactly what to do when she found the ball at her feet in a crowd in front of the net. The result was yet another dramatic overtime victory for the fifth-ranked Stanford women's soccer team.

The Northern California tennis championship for girls has been in existence since 2004 and the finalists every year have been from the Central Coast Section. Menlo School coach Bill Shine believes the CCS dominance is over after watching North Coast Section teams hold their own in the second annual Battle of the Bay.

Keller Chyrst has game and he showed it in No. 18 Stanford's 55-17 rout of visiting Arizona on Saturday night, putting the Cardinal atop the North Division of the Pac-12 football standings entering a bye week.

In a see-saw battle between two of the top men's water polo programs in the nation, No. 3 USC pulled out a 12-8 overtime victory over No. 2 Stanford Saturday morning at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles.

Citing the deaths of two unhoused women in Palo Alto parks two years ago as emblematic of the need to end homelessness in the city, Palo Alto Mayor Karen Holman announced on Friday that as a first step she will sign the White House Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness.

After dropping three straight football games while giving up an average of 49 points per contest, it was time for Palo Alto to turn things around. The Vikings did that in the most unusual way Friday night with a 42-35 double-overtime victory over visiting Saratoga.

Cardinal corner
Andi Sullivan and Haley Rosen each scored a goal to help lead the No. 5 Stanford women's soccer team past host Arizona State, 2-0, Friday night in a Pac-12 Conference match.

Analysis also found that poverty rate has dropped to its lowest level since 2008
Silicon Valley's median household income rose to $98,500 from 2013 to 2014, the Joint Venture Silicon Valley's Institute for Regional Studies reported Friday in a press release.

Afternoon event to take place at White Memorial Plaza
Former Vice President Al Gore will join students at Stanford University this afternoon for a rally addressing climate change.

Fresh off a Tuesday night victory over former Cal Pac Conference foe Pacific Union and a six-hour drive Thursday morning, the Menlo College women's volleyball team made the Golden Eagles of La Sierra its second Cal Pac victim this season following a sweep in Riverside on Thursday night.

The U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team, led by a pair of goals from Stanford's Jordan Morris, started its run in the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship with a 3-1 win against Canada at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Some students, faculty criticize presentation of results from much-anticipated campus climate survey
In the wake of the release of what Stanford University leadership called "striking and troubling" findings on sexual assault from a long-awaited campus climate survey, students and faculty critics are speaking out against what they describe as misleading data that presents a warped picture of the prevalence of sexual assault at Stanford.

Stately addresses on Midpeninsula avenues
Two homes find themselves on avenues with stately names: California and Michigan. While one is a sunny, familiar state, the other one would require a 30-plus drive to visit. Learn about these home sales and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Six figures worth of remodels
In this crop of building permits, more than $410,000 went toward remodels, from kitchens to bathrooms. This figure does not include remodels that happened as part of larger projects, such as a new edition to a home. Scan the rest of the building permits to learn more about what's happening in your neighborhood.

Neighborhoods, dead lawns, cheese and a waterwise class
This week includes a walking tour of the Professorville neighborhood on Oct. 3, assistance in transforming a dead lawn into a low-water garden on Oct. 3, a cheesemaking course on Oct. 4 and a water-saving class on Oct. 10.

Spruce up your backyard for a fall barbecue
Sweep off the patio, hang up the hammock and start flipping burgers  there's still time left to barbecue. Holding an outdoor party is a good excuse to spruce up your backyard. While you're at it, why not decorate it as well?

Most expensive sale came from Palo Alto
While Palo Alto only saw seven sales this week, the highest sale price came from it: $9,250,000. Mountain View had the most sales at 12, and Woodside came in second for most expensive home sale. Read the rest of the real estate numbers below to see how other Palo Alto-area locations compared.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Oct. 5.

American Institute of Architects hosts Silicon Valley home tour Oct. 10
The owners of four South Bay residences are opening up their homes on Saturday, Oct. 10, for the 2015 Silicon Valley Home Tours. The inaugural event is hosted by the Santa Clara Valley chapter of the American Institute of Architects and will feature homes in Palo Alto and Los Altos.

Paly presents 'Shrek The Musical JR.'
Audiences of all ages can take a trip with a green ogre to the fairy-tale land of Duloc in Palo Alto High School theater department's fall production of "Shrek The Musical JR."

The importance of beating Arizona on Wednesday night will be made more clear Friday night should the eighth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team can find a way to beat host No. 6 Arizona State in a Pac-12 Conference match.

Stanford football coach David Shaw needed less than five minutes to determine that Blake Martinez was a perfect fit for his defense. After a frustrating couple of years dealing with various setbacks, Martinez has spent the past two years proving Shaw right.

Building would replace Hotel Parmani
A proposal to demolish a two-story motel on El Camino Real and replace it with a 50-foot-tall hotel elicited early skepticism from Palo Alto officials Thursday, with several members of the city's Architectural Review Board urging the project architect to think smaller.

Nonprofit MathAndCoding has taught more than 200 computer science workshops to teens
Coding isn't as hard as it sounds, but it might not be accessible to many teens. That was the idea that inspired Nikhil Cheerla and Vineet Kosaraju, two Bay Area high school students, to start MathAndCoding, a nonprofit organization that aims to teach young students about computer science and programming.

'From Silicon Valley to Swaziland' recounts local couple's story
Los Altos couple's recently self-published book, "From Silicon Valley to Swaziland," recounts their 18-month adventure in Africa and work through a nonprofit agency to help build small businesses and youth entrepreneurship.

Palo Alto bicyclist and runner George Pierce will compete again in Duathlon World Championships
Palo Alto bicyclist and runner George Pierce doesn't remember anything about the collision with a truck that almost killed him, but he is very clear about what saved him: faith, forgiveness and an unrelenting refusal to succumb to fear.

Palo Alto mayor hopes inaugural retailers' street fair will be replicated
Call it a block party that the whole city is invited to attend. Palo Alto will kick off its inaugural Meet The Street event on Oct. 8 from 5-9 p.m., with food, fashion, music and more.

Isolated trail considered dangerous, but safety measures would entail complications
One Stanford University sophomore has made it her mission to make a 0.1-mile dirt path, dubbed the "Scary Path," safer for students, pushing the university administration to either pave and light it or consider alternatives.

To end homelessness we need to come together as a community. As community members, business owners and service providers we need to know the people staying on the streets as best we can so that we might know how to help them in their struggle.

Prep roundup
The Castilleja golf team grabbed control of the West Bay Athletic League race with a 201-226 dual-match victory over the Sacred Heart Prep girls on Wednesday at Stanford Golf Course.

Coalition of colleges, universities teams up to redesign college application process
Stanford University is one of 83 colleges and universities that will launch in 2016 a new application process geared toward increasing access and decreasing cost for high school students, particularly those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

City Council to consider overall limit for development as part of Comprehensive Plan update
With new developments spurring new demand for Palo Alto's recreational facilities, as well as for ways to improve traffic congestion, city officials are preparing review and possibly revise several long-standing policies that have been guiding the city on matters of land use and recreation for nearly two decades.

City cites drought as 'significant stressor' for local canopy as number of tree removals spikes
As the drought drags through its fourth year, Palo Alto's parched trees are dying in greater numbers, prompting city officials to expand watering services and seek help from the public.

Bernard Valentine, 20, was smoking marijuana in front of kids when officers contacted him
An East Palo Alto man was arrested on suspicion of illegally carrying a concealed weapon Tuesday evening after the Menlo Park's Narcotics Enforcement Team contacted a group of individuals openly smoking marijuana in front of children, according to police.

Down 2-1, the eighth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team fought back to defeat No. 14 Arizona, 15-25, 25-15, 21-25, 25-23, 17-15, Wednesday at the McKale Center in Tucson. The Cardinal improves to 8-3 overall and to 2-1 in the Pac-12, while the Wildcats drop to 11-4 and 1-2 in conference.

Classical Indian dance company prepares for annual showcase
Peninsula-based classical Indian dance school Guru Shradha will perform Odissi dances at Cubberley Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Chamber work inspired by conspiracy theories debuts at Stanford
A chamber work for big band inspired by conspiracy theories, "Real Enemies" will have its world premiere on Friday, Oct. 2, at Stanford's Bing Concert Hall.

Since Stanford submitted its revised proposal Sept. 28 to develop its 8.4-acre property along roughly half a mile of El Camino Real, stretching from the Stanford Park Hotel to Big 5 Sporting Goods, city officials and residents have been voicing their opinions about what this development could mean to Menlo Park.

Los Altos Fall Festival features food, art, music and more
This Saturday and Sunday, Oct 3-4, downtown Los Altos celebrates the arrival of fall with arts and crafts booths, live music, microbrews and more.

City sends in bug-sniffing dogs to all local branches
Palo Alto's Rinconada Library is closed to allow a pest control company to treat a small area within the library where bed bugs were found during a canine inspection on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Redwood City hosts Horses to Horsepower car show
Ooh and aah at more than 250 vehicles on Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Horses to Horsepower car show in Redwood City.

Tonight's meeting will focus on aging facilities
The City of Palo Alto will hold a community meeting on Wednesday evening, Sept. 30, on plans to improve the Lucy Evans Baylands Interpretive Center and boardwalk.

Former tennis stars Lindsay Davenport and Brad Gilbert helped the East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring (EPATT) after-school program for underserved kids in the local community host its second EPATT Kids Cup Pro-Am Tennis Tournament at Stanford's Taube Family Tennis Center last Saturday.

Former Stanford baseball pitcher Erik Davis, 28, had been in the Boston area, where he lives in the offseason with his fiancee, for a few days when he got a call from Washington assistant general manager Doug Harris in early September.

Proposed action would more fully support transgender, gender non-conforming students
The Palo Alto school district is considering a new comprehensive policy that would take a more intentional, inclusive approach to ensuring the protection of the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming students.

Bike Palo Alto! features free bicycle maintenance, treats and more
Organizers of the 6th annual Bike Palo Alto!, an event to get residents to ride their bikes, hope for a good turnout this weekend.

The number of reported sex crimes and stalkings rose on the Stanford University campus in 2014, while burglaries and liquor-law violations have dramatically dropped, according to a new campus crime report, titled "Stanford University Safety, Security and Fire Report 2015."

The Gunn girls grabbed control of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League golf race on Tuesday with a victory over Saratoga, coupled with Palo Alto's loss at Los Gatos.

Palo Alto school board discusses Smarter Balanced assessment results
While school district staff celebrated at Tuesday's school board meeting the high achievement of most Palo Alto Unified students on the state's new Smarter Balanced standardized assessment, some parents, the superintendent and one school board member expressed concern about the persistently lower performance of students of color and low-income students compared to their peers.

Football notebook
The power running game that has helped carry Stanford to national prominence has been on full display the past two weeks at USC and Oregon State. The 18th-ranked Cardinal collected 195 yards in the 41-31 upset of the sixth-ranked Trojans, and 325 in the 42-24 victory against the Beavers.

The Menlo College women's volleyball team drew inspiration from a crowded gym full of supporters and took a bit of revenge on visiting Pacific Union on Tuesday night, beating the Pioneers, 25-23, 25-16, 25-22, in a nonconference match.

The nationally No. 2-ranked Stanford women's golf team finished 10th in the ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M on Tuesday at the Reunion Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.

Dr. Carol Dweck to talk about her research on why people succeed, how to foster success
Stanford University professor and acclaimed author Dr. Carol Dweck will be at the Oshman Family JCC to talk about her research on how "society can promote achievement in education and innovation in business."

Bike Palo Alto! features free bicycle maintenance, treats and more
Organizers of the sixth annual Bike Palo Alto!, an event to get residents to ride their bikes, hope for a good turnout this Sunday, Oct. 4.

Of local note
Menlo-Atherton has hired Leonid ("Leo") Krupnik as the new head coach for the boys varsity soccer team. Krupnik comes to M-A with an extensive background in collegiate and professional soccer.

City Council to wait for Google's decision before making any commitments
With Google looming as a major wildcard, Palo Alto officials agreed on Monday to wait until next year before making any decisions on a citywide fiber network.

Other agenda items include Smarter Balanced test results, board goals
As a committee continues its work to assess and creatively address the Palo Alto school district's enrollment challenges, this year's enrollment numbers have been released, showing decline at the elementary level and growth at the secondary level.

Palo Alto City Council approves slew of permanent traffic-calming measures for busy stretch
No traffic-calming project has caused as much road rage in Palo Alto as the city's decade-long experiment with the Chareston-Arastradero corridor, a 2.3-mile artery that passes through 11 schools, eight neighborhoods and five city parks. On Monday night, the City Council agreed that it's time to declare the prolonged trial a success and to make the changes permanent.

The eighth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team heads to Tucson Wednesday in unfamiliar territory. The Cardinal and host Arizona are two of six teams tied for fourth place in the Pac-12 Conference.

In just the second race of the young season, the Menlo College women's cross country team got its first individual win on Sunday at the Pacific Union Invitation in Angwin. Megan Thompson put in a gutsy performance on one of the toughest, hilliest courses the Oaks will race all season and bested Simpson's Holly Pebbles in the final mile to claim the first place finish with a time of 21:46.

St. Louis Cardinals rookie and Stanford grad Stephen Piscotty left Monday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on a cart after being involved in a gruesome outfield collision with teammate Peter Bourjos. An initial scan came back negative.

Palo Alto business representatives, utilities workers and firefighters bring aid after Northern California wildfire
Making an arduous journey through miles of traffic and passing through a terrain of burned cars in a charred landscape, food-truck vendors from Palo Alto, along with representatives from the City of Palo Alto and Stanford Federal Credit Union, arrived to feed the victims of the Middletown fire on Monday, Sept. 28.

The second-ranked Stanford women's golf team moved up two places Monday in the ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M at Reunion Resort in Florida. After posting a 1-over-par team score of 289 in Sunday's first round, the Cardinal combined for a 1-under 287 and is in seventh place in the talented 12-team tournament at even-par 576.

Efforts include vegetation removal, enhanced sandbagging and more
As weather forecasters warn of El Nino that will bring intense rain storms this winter, the cities of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, the San Mateo County Flood Control District and the Santa Clara Valley Water District are working with the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers authority to reduce the risk of flooding.

An East Palo Alto man entered a no-contest plea to a felony assault with a deadly weapon charge on Friday and was sentenced to 16 years in state prison for stabbing his boyfriend in January, prosecutors said.

Cardinal corner
Adam Abdulhamid scored nine goals on the day and the second-ranked Stanford men's water polo team came away with two more wins Sunday, beating Santa Clara, 18-5, early and dispatching San Jose State, 20-5, later as part of the Aggie Invitational in Davis.

Football notes
Christian McCaffrey is quickly establishing himself as one of the most dynamic and versatile offensive players in the country. He ranks third in the country in all-purpose yards, averaging 222 per game. In 117 plays, he has rushed for 445 yards, added 157 yards in receiving, and returned kickoffs for 260, totaling 889 yards.

Weekend prep roundup
The defensive coaches on both sides of the field couldn't be happy with the final score in Saturday's nonleague football game between Sacred Heart Prep and host Carmel. The offensive coaches, however, had be smiling.

Menlo report
Eli Bunton scored twice and the Menlo College defense took care of the rest in leading the Oaks to a 4-0 victory over host Arizona Christian in a Golden State Athletic Conference men's soccer contest on Saturday.

Cross country
Palo Alto junior Kent Slaney and Gunn senior Gillian Meeks pulled off a rare double in cross country at the annual Stanford Invitational on Saturday as each ran off with individual titles at the Stanford Golf Course.

Stanford roundup
Stanford junior Sean McGorty won the men's race and Stanford earned both team victories at the 42nd annual Stanford Invitational cross country race Saturday at the Stanford Golf Course.

Quarterback Mackenzie Morehead and running back Charlie Ferguson combined for 350 yards passing and running, to lead Menlo School to a commanding 42-0 nonleague football win over visiting Carlmont at Woodside High on Friday night.

Stanford roundup
Kyra Carusa scored two second-half goals in less than a minute to help lead the No. 8 Stanford women's soccer team to a 4-1 victory at Utah in the Pac-12 conference opener for both teams Friday.

Scofflaws who have been parking in downtown Palo Alto neighborhoods without a permit have no more than 17 days to change their habits. City officials announced this week that enforcement of the new Residential Preferential Program will start by Oct. 13.

Sunday event to feature free rides, airplane fly-by in formation
Palo Alto Municipal Airport will make history on Sunday, Sept. 27, when it celebrates its 80th anniversary of its Baylands location at Palo Alto Airport Day.

Baylands event will draw over 2,000
The 31st Annual Palo Alto Weekly Moonlight Run & Walk takes place tonight under the full Harvest Moon in the Palo Alto Baylands.

Baylands event benefits non-profits serving kids and families
About 2,500 athletes ran and walked by the light of the harvest moon Friday night at the 31st annual Palo Alto Weekly Moonlight Run & Walk in the Baylands.

First-year Palo Alto boys water polo head coach Aaron Johnson said he felt no added pressure coaching head-to-head against his older brother, Matt, and his Gunn squad for the first time during a SCVAL De Anza Division matchup on Thursday.

September is National Preparedness Month, and Divakar Saini, a Gunn High School junior, is spreading the word. Earthquake drills at school sparked his original interest in emergency preparedness, and now he has been active in the topic for two years.

What it takes today to buy previous sales from the '70s
Six homes in this week's edition of "Recent home sales" hadn't been sold since the 1970s. With more than 35 years between sale dates, it's no surprise you need more commas in your bank account number to purchase all of the Midpeninsula real estate today.

Glass sale, garden market, pest problems and community fun
This week includes a handblown glass sale on Sept. 26 through Paly Fiery Arts, a vegetable market on Oct. 3 with support from the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, a pest prevention class on Oct. 3 at Common Ground Garden and a day of community fun on Oct. 4 at Gamble Garden.

Biggest number in Woodside
The highest sale this week comes from Woodside at $9.5 million. The first runner-up came from the only sale in Los Altos Hills, which totaled $6.3 million. Read the rest of the real estate numbers below to see how other Palo Alto-area locations compared.

Residents serve neighborhoods, city through CERT
David Rost started unit four by asking the class the four colors of triage. The room suddenly filled with a flurry of answers  red, black, green, yellow  each one meaning a different level of trauma to the students in September's Community Emergency Response Team program.

City Council to consider bringing recycled water to Stanford Research Park
As California's water woes continue to stress local trees and inflate water rates, Palo Alto officials are preparing to move ahead with a $35 million project that would significantly increase the city's supply of "drought-proof" water.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Sept. 28.

The Stanford football coaching staff has been trying to find ways to get the ball into the hands of sophomore Christian McCaffrey since he began to make things happen as a freshman. Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan gave the ball to McCaffrey 29 times in last week's 41-31 upset win over USC. That resulted in 152 yards.

The 42nd annual Stanford Invitational cross-country meet will be held Saturday at Stanford Golf Course, beginning at 9 a.m. The meet provides a glimpse of the Stanford teams that are regarded as national contenders and serves as a showcase for some of the best high school runners in the state and beyond.

After falling essentially one set victory shy of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games at the FIVB World Cup earlier this month, the U.S. women's national volleyball team embarks on its second chance for qualification at the NORCECA Women's Continental Championship, which begin Sunday in Michoacan, Mexico.

Brennan Scarlett returns to his home state of Oregon on Friday night as No. 21 Stanford faces Oregon State in Corvallis. The Portland native and fifth-year senior has been a force at defensive end for the 2-1 Cardinal in his first season with the program.

'Employment First' policy to help people with developmental, intellectual disabilities
Until recently, California's main model for training and supplying jobs for people with developmental disabilities focused on placing them in so-called "sheltered" work spaces, where they were isolated from the mainstream workforce in settings exempt from even the minimum wage.

Firms see emerging technology as one path to a more inclusive future
Recent pronouncements by technology companies about inclusiveness and diversity would seem to indicate that they are making great strides, but how well are they doing with hiring people with disabilities?

Employees with disabilities are slowly gaining greater entry into Silicon Valley companies, but still have far to go
Some Silicon Valley companies are making headway in hiring people with disabilities for mainstream jobs, with the help of Palo Alto area nonprofits.

CaĆ±ada College puts on a fashion and design show
At Artistry in Fashion, regional designers and students show their stuff.

Amir Dan Rubin to join UnitedHealth Group
Amir Dan Rubin, the CEO and president of Stanford Health Care since 2011, will leave to join insurance giant UnitedHealth Group at the end of this year, Stanford officials announced Thursday morning.

End of an era for interactive art installation
Residents are hosting a farewell celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, for "Aurora," the 35-foot-tall interactive light sculpture that resides in City Hall's King Plaza.

Local experts dish on how to create the ultimate spread
It takes more than just scattering crackers around a wedge of Gouda to assemble a quality cheese plate. Read on for tips from local meat and cheese experts on how to craft an elegant cheese board.

Three local girls water polo teams hope they'll be better than their seeds for the 21st annual Amanda K. MacDonald Invitational this weekend at Menlo School and Menlo-Atherton High.

Bed bugs found on two chairs, pest company to treat immediately
Palo Alto's Mitchell Park Library is closing at 6 p.m. Sept. 23 to allow a pest control company to inspect and treat a small area within the library where bed bugs have been found.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, check out classical Indian dance troupe Nrityagram Dance Ensemble at Stanford's Bing Concert Hall, catch sizzling music and fresh food at the Redwood City Salsa Festival and enjoy the start of autumn at Filoli.

$13M in one-time funds to provide emergency shelter space during the cold months
Santa Clara County officials plan to massively increase the number of emergency shelter space for homeless people throughout the county, and they're doing it with a sense of urgency.

Cardinal corner
Jody Stewart, Stanford's associate head coach for track and field, has been named Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at Texas State, the Sun Belt Conference school announced Monday.

Former tennis stars Lindsay Davenport and Brad Gilbert will help the East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring (EPATT) after-school program for underserved kids in the local community host its second EPATT Kids Cup Pro-Am Tennis Tournament at Stanford's Taube Family Tennis Center on Saturday.

Saturday event offers one-on-one sessions, demonstrations and more
The Palo Alto Community Health Fair, sponsored by the City of Palo Alto, the YMCA, Stanford Children's Health, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and other local nonprofit agencies, will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9:50 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road.

Sand Hill Property Company wants to build four-story development next to Stanford University's new housing complex
It's one of the tallest buildings in Palo Alto, though few would say it's one of its most welcoming. Now, plans are afoot to demolish and replace the six-story building at 2600 El Camino Real.

Suspect remains at large
Palo Alto police are looking for a man who according to two witnesses was brandishing a firearm on the 100 block of California Avenue on Tuesday night.

Team USA punched its ticket to next summer's Rio Olympics by earning gold at the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup on Wednesday in Tokyo. In their final match of the tournament, the U.S. men defeated Argentina, 25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 25-20 at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.

Police seek clues after Tuesday incident near El Camino Real
A man was stabbed in the back outside of Happy Donuts in Palo Alto on Tuesday evening, though neither he nor any witnesses saw the crime occur, according to police.

Stanford's preparation for Friday's Pac-12 North football game at Oregon State began in the locker room at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum last Saturday night.

Eileen Richardson and Stephanie Martinson to receive Athena awards
Two of Palo Alto's most influential businesswomen in 2015 include the executive director of a nonprofit that provides homeless men and women with housing and work experience, and the founder of a nonprofit that seeks to raise money and awareness for automated electronic defibrillators, according to the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce.

Victim identified as 27-year-old Union City man
A motorcyclist killed Tuesday in a crash on U.S. Highway 101 in Palo Alto appears to have been splitting lanes at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred, according to the California Highway Patrol.

City considers mail-only election in 2016 to replace current fees, fund new projects
The city is considering going to voters next year to ask them to approve new fees to keep Palo Alto's storm-drain improvements afloat.

Oaks report
The Menlo College men's and women's soccer teams each finished with the same result in their Golden State Athletic Conference openers on Tuesday. The men played to a scoreless draw with visiting Biola. The women tied Biola, 1-1.

Freshman Hayley Hodson recorded 18 kills and had five blocks to lead eighth-ranked Stanford past host California, 25-23, 27-25, 20-25, 25-16, in the Pac-12 women's volleyball opener on Tuesday night in Berkeley.

Collision reported on southbound Highway 101 just north of Embarcadero Road
A collision on southbound U.S. Highway 101 left a motorcyclist dead in Palo Alto this evening after emergency crews headed to the crash were delayed by heavy traffic, firefighters said.

CAFE SpA to host pop-up party in Mountain View
Mountain View is gearing up for a unique pop-up party hosted by Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Transit agency prepares to make decision on controversial Bus Rapid Transit proposal
With plans for a greatly expanded bus service on El Camino Real speeding toward a decision, several cities along the prominent corridor remain skeptical about the most dramatic proposal on the table: the creation of "bus-only" lanes between Palo Alto and San Jose.

Kevin Hogan's left ankle injury, early in the second half of Saturday's 41-31 upset of then-No. 6 Southern California, remains worrisome for the No. 21-ranked Cardinal (1-0 Pac-12, 2-1 overall) as it prepares for Friday night's game against Oregon State in Corvallis.

FIVB volleyball
Stanford grad Erik Shoji was named the Most Impressive Player for digging and receiving in the path of Russia's tough serves and attacks, recording a match-high 14 digs to help the U.S. men's national volleyball team keep its hopes for Olympic qualification alive with a 25-23, 26-24, 25-17 win over Russia on Tuesday at the FIVB World Cup at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo.

San Francisco-based organization takes mental health to the streets
Sidewalk Talk, a San Francisco-based organization founded by two psychotherapists who believe in the power of listening to improve mental health and build community, visited Gunn High School last week and hopes to expand further into Palo Alto.

Monday's prep roundup
The Menlo School girls opened their 2015 golf season Monday with a 214-217 West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) victory over Harker at Menlo Country Club's front nine par 35. The match was not decided until the last foursome posted their scores.

Divisive law seeks to pace commercial growth downtown, around California Avenue and along El Camino Real
Palo Alto City Council on Monday night took its most aggressive and polarizing step yet toward curbing the rapid pace of growth when it adopted an annual limit on office construction in the city's three prime commercial areas.

Ordinance aims to protect independent retailers  and area's eclectic character
On Monday night, as the City Council passed a new law regulating chain stores on California Avenue, the goal was to shield the city's second downtown's eclectic, funky character from the forces of change.

After a first set in which everything seemed to go right, things went downhill for the U.S. Men's National Team, which fell to Poland, 17-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-15 on Monday in an FIVB World Cup match in Tokyo.

Students: Apply for a spot by Sept. 25
Sophomores, juniors and seniors at Palo Alto's two high schools have until Friday to apply for a spot in the district's new Advanced Authentic Research (AAR) program, which will pair participating students with mentors for a year-long, in-depth research project.

Stanford research group currently engaged in partnerships with Palo Alto high schools
Challenge Success, the Stanford University Graduate School of Education school-reform and research group, is hosting its annual conference this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25 and 26.

Fifth-year senior quarterback Kevin Hogan, who engineered Stanford's 41-31 upset against sixth-ranked USC on Saturday night, has been named the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, it was announced Monday.

The earth will get between the sun and the moon on Sunday evening Sept. 27, creating a total lunar eclipse for people living in North and South America, chair of the Astronomy Department at Foothill College said.

This week's retail news
Palo Alto's Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant has closed its doors for a dramatic renovation, while Whole Foods celebrates "Love Fest" this month by offering cups of coffee for a quarter.

Suspect sought for Sunday assault in Midtown
Palo Alto police are searching for a man who on Sunday walked up to a woman pushing an infant in a stroller, punched her in the head and took her purse before running away through the streets of Midtown.

Cardinal corner
Junior All-American Maverick McNealy repeated as individual medalist and helped lead the Stanford men's golf team to a fourth-place finish Sunday in the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club.

A Spare the Air Smog Alert has been issued for Monday due to hot weather, smoggy conditions and smoke from wildfires around the region, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Sunday notebook
Victories against USC are prized. Never mind the pre-game chatter and records, you are usually assured of seeing a physical, exciting and intense battle that often comes down to heart and will.

Weekend prep football
Menlo School won its third straight, but Sacred Heart Prep suffered a rare second straight setback to highlight weekend high school football action on Saturday.

Remound Wright scored three touchdowns and Kevin Hogan passed for 279 yards on a near-flawless 18-of-23 passing performance, with two touchdown passes and no interceptions, and Stanford knocked off No. 6 USC, 41-31, on Saturday in the Pac-12 opener at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Rate decreases 0.4 percent from July to August
The number of people emerging from unemployment in California is making encouraging gains, according to this month's figures released today by the state's Employment Development Department.

Freshman running back Bryce Love is off to a fast start in his Stanford football career, but has always been a step ahead of the competition. In 2009, he set national records in the midget age group (11-12) at the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in the 100 (11.64), 200 (23.37) and 400 meters (50.75) and was selected the USA Track & Field Youth Athlete of the Year.

Many teams have trouble taking solace in moral victories, especially during 24-point losses, but there were a sizeable number of positives for the Palo Alto football squad in its nonleague game against Mitty on Friday night at Foothill College.

The U.S. men's national team survived a letdown and held on to beat Tunisia, 25-14, 25-19, 29-27, in an FIVB World Cup match on Friday at the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium in Japan.

Cardinal corner
Tomas Hilliard-Arce celebrated the final weekend of vacation with a pair of goal and the fourth-ranked Stanford men's soccer team defeated visiting USF, 3-1, in a nonconference game on Friday night.

Stanford junior forward Jordan Morris was named by U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team head coach Andi Herzog to the 20-player roster that will compete in the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship it was announced Friday.

Hacker's message used language associated with the hacktivist group Anonymous
The five online news sites of Embarcadero Media, including PaloAltoOnline.com, were hacked Thursday night at about 10:30 p.m. but are now back online.

Columbia University researcher Madelyn Gould discusses clusters, role of the media
Nationally renowned youth suicide researcher Madelyn Gould traveled to Palo Alto this week to give a talk on the implications of community messaging around suicide contagion.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Sept. 21.

Tacos, mariachi highlight the 30th anniversary Fulton Street block party
When Palo Alto resident Jennifer Sullivan's 4-year-old son was reading Babar books, he initiated an idea that would continue to grow in their Community Center neighborhood for 30 years.

Thefts occurred all over town, with thieves mainly targeting unlocked vehicles, police say
Palo Alto has again become a hot spot for thefts and burglaries from vehicles, with 18 incidents reported on Sept. 14 and 15 alone.

The nationally No. 4-ranked Stanford men's water polo team will take the No. 3 seed into the 16-team KAP7 NorCal Invitational this weekend at Avery Aquatic Center. Stanford is one 16 teams competing in the two-day tournament, which wraps up Sunday with the championship match at 6:15 p.m.

City, residents seek ways to shoo pesky Canada geese
Honking and flapping, flocks of Canada geese fly each morning over Ken Allen's house in Adobe Meadow. But rather than go south for the winter or head for the Baylands, these geese are headed for greener pastures -- the playing fields at Mitchell Park.

Bryce Love made his mark on the Stanford football season by making a mistake, and then made something out of it while making a dramatic impression in last week's 31-7 victory over Central Florida.

Weekly and City of Palo Alto sponsor 31st annual benefit event for local nonprofits supporting kids and families
The Palo Alto Weekly and City of Palo Alto sponsor a benefit event for local nonprofits supporting kids and families.

The U.S. men's national volleyball team made sure recent history with Iran wasn't going to be rewritten, beating the Iranians, 20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21, in a FIVB World Cup match at Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium in Japan.

Most sales in Mountain View, Palo Alto
Mountain View and Palo Alto see the most sales this edition, which 18 home sales in each city. Read the rest of the real estate numbers below to see how other Palo Alto-area locations compared.

Reflection on last week
Like last week, Reflection Way in Mountain View saw another home sale. Learn about this home sale and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Roof work happening around town
If residents look around the neighborhood, someone is probably adding a PV system to the roof, re-roofing or cleaning the top of their home. Roof-related permits make up nearly half of this week's Palo Alto building permits. Scan the rest of the building permits to learn more about what's happening in your neighborhood.

Clean the creek, celebrate fall harvest and learn about Stanford's trees
This week includes an opportunity to volunteer along Matadero Creek as part of Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 19, a fall celebration for all ages at Filoli on Sept. 26 and an education walk through Stanford's leafy canopy on Oct. 10.

Scattered with parks, tennis courts and even a children's library and zoo, Palo Alto's Community Center neighborhood has it all.

Palo Alto Run Club, BayTrailrunners help members build momentum, community
Motivation is one of the benefits that running groups, teams and clubs offer their members. Other benefits include the encouragement of a healthy and active lifestyle, a way to spend time in nature and a community with shared interests.

Youth musicians and Bay Area artists will entertain, engage at Palo Alto's Moonlight Run
New to this year's goings-on at the Moonlight Run & Walk are two activities that will exhibit and tap into the creativity of the Palo Alto community.

Republican presidential candidates' vitriol against immigrants -- and the apparent support it has elicited -- reminds me yet again of why, after more than 30 years, I'm still grateful to be living here. No doubt some locals agree with these candidates' comments. But for the most part, the people I know appreciate immigrants' hard work and sympathize with the challenges they face.

Oktoberfest comes to Redwood City
For a little bit of Bavaria in the Bay Area -- including Alpine music, Tyrolean dancing, beer and bratwurst -- head to Redwood City this weekend for Oktoberfest. Prost!

Los Altos hosts first Wine Walk
Sip and stroll through downtown Los Altos during the first annual Wine Walk on Friday, Sept. 18.

The defending national champion Stanford women's golf team has been invited to compete in the inaugural East Lake Cup Collegiate Match Play Championship (Nov. 2-3) at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga., the Golf Channel announced Wednesday.

Suit alleges that the Department of Education encouraged districts to falsify documentation related to compliance with state physical-education mandate
The Palo Alto Unified School District was named as a defendant in a lawsuit challenging reduced physical education hours in school districts, according to San Francisco County Superior Court documents.

City Council to weigh additional contributions to reduce $296-million liability
Palo Alto's financial climate remains sunny, with rising revenues fueling expanding city services, but one giant cloud continues to hover on the horizon: a $296-million bill for pension expenses.

The U.S. men's national volleyball team continued its tough serving Wednesday, using that part of the game to beat Venezuela, 25-18, 25-16, 25-20 in an FIVB World Cup match at Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium in Japan.

Oaks report
Menlo College junior forward Danielle McCarthy was named the Golden State Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts in leading the Oaks to a 3-0 record last week.

Congestion relief and permit frustrations characterize rollout of long-awaited Residential Preferential Parking program
It took years for Palo Alto to launch its downtown parking-permit program and just hours for residents to notice the transformation taking place on their blocks.

Author Ann Beattie discusses her new short story collection
Author Ann Beattie will appear at Kepler's Books on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to discuss her first short-story collection in a decade.

Grocer would fill the gap in Palo Alto left by The Fresh Market
Edgewood Plaza Shopping Center could soon have a new grocer in the form of Andronico's Community Markets, according to center redeveloper Sand Hill Property Co.

This week's retail news
Palo Alto's Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant closes its doors this week for a dramatic renovation, while Whole Foods celebrates "Love Fest" this month by offering cups of coffee for a quarter.

More than 350 people gathered Monday night to hear a panel talk about topics that make many uncomfortable: the mental health of our children, the stress they are under, and what can be done to improve the former, relieve the latter, and ultimately, combat teen suicides.

Stanford in NFL
Ty Montgomery is Stanford's all-time leading leader in kickoff return yards. Those skills were on display once again as he helped open the 2015 National Football League season in a big way as his Green Bay Packers posted a 31-23 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Tuesday's prep roundup
The demolition of both gyms to make way for a new athletics complex at Palo Alto High has forced the school's water polo teams to practice and play on the road.

City officials make a case for grade separation on rail corridor
With a transportation-tax measure speeding toward the November 2016 ballot, cities throughout Santa Clara County have collectively submitted more than 600 projects that they'd like to see funded with the new tax. But while recent polls show strong support for the measure countywide, many in Palo Alto remain highly skeptical for any proposal that does not involve grade separation for Caltrain.

Palo Alto school board member hopes to quell concerns about involvement with federal agency
The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has ruled that Palo Alto Unified School District board member Ken Dauber has no financial conflict of interest related to matters involving the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, for which he previously worked as a paid consultant.

Palo Alto officials hit the brakes on project proposed for city's most congested intersection
Faced with traffic problems, parking shortages, and public angst over new developments, Palo Alto officials swiftly swatted down on Tuesday night a proposal to build a four-story building at the chronically congested intersection of El Camino Real and Page Mill Road.

Stanford notebook
Cardinal football coach David Shaw likes to keep these things low-key. Some schools have been creative in the way they inform former walk-ons that they have earned scholarships. At Stanford, the announcement isn't exactly an announcement. It's more of, 'Wait ... What did he just say?'

Receiving strong contributions from all five players, the Stanford women's golf team started the 2015-16 season in impressive fashion Tuesday by securing a 10-stroke victory in the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational at the University of New Mexico Golf Course, hosted by New Mexico.

Future Hewlett Packard Enterprises to shed thousands of jobs, mostly in its Enterprise Services business
In anticipation of its split into two separate companies, Hewlett Packard Company, as part of its 2015 Securities Analysts Meeting today, outlined plans for the future Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, including tens of thousands of layoffs.

With $50 million and an open call for ideas, 'Super School Project' hopes to bring change to America's public high schools
Palo Alto resident Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of technology pioneer Steve Jobs, is investing $50 million in an open-source campaign to innovate a place that has a reputation for struggling to evolve with the changing times: America's public high schools.

Bronze sculpture was taken over the Labor Day weekend
A bronze giraffe that has given children pleasure for the past 10 years at The Wonder Years Preschool in Palo Alto was stolen over the Labor Day weekend, according to school officials.

Journalist Marina Krakovsky releases new book
According to journalist and author Marina Krakovsky, "middlemen" are crucial cogs in making the dot-com world go 'round.

Prep water polo
The 2014 water polo season for the Menlo School boys didn't end the way coach Jack Bowen wanted. His 11 seniors wrapped up their careers by losing the PAL Bay Division title to rival Menlo-Atherton and the Central Coast Section Division II crown to rival Sacred Heart Prep.

Freshmen earn honor
Stanford junior Carol Zhao will start the 2015-16 women's tennis season ranked No. 1 in the nation, according to the 2015 Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Women's Division I Preseason Rankings that were released Tuesday.

City kicks off Residential Preferential Parking program with four-week warning period
After years of pleading and planning, downtown Palo Alto's long-awaited parking-permit program officially kicked off this morning  though it will be more than a month before any tickets are actually issued.

Of local note
With freshman Michelle Xie from Palo Alto High leading the way, the Harvard women's golf team opened its season by placing fourth at the Diane Thomason Invitational last weekend in Iowa City, Iowa.

Garth Saloner is concerned that ongoing litigation will 'unfairly impact' the school
Garth Saloner, dean of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, will be stepping down at the end of the current academic year in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a former faculty member whose wife Saloner had a romantic relationship with, according to the university.

Actor returns to his alma mater, duplicating hands-on educational model he experienced
Forty local high schoolers began on Sunday a nine-part special film class taught by famed actor and Palo Alto native James Franco, who has described the course as "the class I would have wanted in high school."

Saturday's event looked to build racial, ethnic bonds and friendships in community
They came for the bubbles, the magicians, the music and face painting. But for many the Palo Alto Kids' Carnival offered a chance to come together with people of different races and dissolve social barriers.

Sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey had another productive game, rushing for 58 yards on a career-high 20 carries and caught four passes for 59 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown from quarterback Kevin Hogan, in Stanford's 31-7 victory against UCF on Saturday night.

Oracle co-founder takes ownership of prominent downtown site
Larry Ellison, one of Silicon Valley's wealthiest and most extravagant high-tech titans, has added to his collection of riches one of downtown Palo Alto's most visible properties: the Epiphany on Hamilton Avenue.

After a hard year, university hopes for better with OpenXChange
In the wake of a "difficult" and tense year at Stanford University around social and political issues like sexual assault and racial inequity, the university has launched a yearlong initiative to encourage the open exchange of ideas on campus, President John Hennessy and Provost John Etchemendy announced on Friday.

Cardinal corner
The defending national champion Stanford women's golf team picked up where it left off by charging to the first-day lead in the season-opening Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational on Monday at the University of New Mexico Golf Course, hosted by New Mexico in Albuquerque.

No injuries reported, CHP officials say
A tour bus carrying dozens of students who were part of a Palo Alto singing group caught fire Friday evening on state Highway 17 in Santa Cruz County, according to the California Highway Patrol. No injuries were reported.

Weekend prep roundup
The Palo Alto boys officially opened their cross-country season in a big way by winning team and individual titles in the Varsity l race at the Lowell Invitational on a cool Saturday at Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park.

No injuries reported; Caltrain service interrupted after car gets wedged under train
A northbound Caltrain train struck an unoccupied vehicle at the East Meadow Drive crossing in Palo Alto on Sunday night, crushing the car's front end, forcing the closure of the northbound track and stranding passengers inside the train for more than an hour. No one was reportedly injured.

Actor returns to his alma mater, duplicating hands-on educational model he experienced
Forty local high schoolers began on Sunday a nine-part special film class taught by famed actor and Palo Alto native James Franco, who has described the course as "the class I would have wanted in high school."

Stanford roundup
Tegan McGrady scored the first goal of her collegiate career to lift the second-ranked Stanford women's soccer team past visiting Oklahoma, 2-1, in overtime on Sunday at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.

The United States men's national volleyball team eased coaches concerns of a possible letdown Sunday by cruising to a 25-20, 25-13, 25-21 victory over Egypt in an FIVB World Cup match at Hiroshima Green Arena on Sunday.

Weekend prep football
After a 60-point football loss to Menlo School last season, Mission-San Francisco certainly came in hungry for a rematch. The result wasn't quite as lopsided, but Menlo prevailed, 28-14, in a gritty win thanks to some fourth-quarter fireworks Saturday night at Sequoia High in Redwood City.

Kevin Hogan threw for a career-high 341 yards and three touchdowns and the Stanford football team beat visiting Central Florida, 31-7, in its home opener Saturday.

College roundup
Five Stanford players combined for seven goals to lead the fifth-ranked Cardinal field hockey team to a convincing 7-0 victory over host Saint Louis on Saturday afternoon at Grant Field.

When the annual High School All-American Tennis Classic for girls in Newport Beach was canceled about eight years ago, it left the top teams in the state without a place to test themselves. The inaugural Golden State Tennis Classic, which wrapped up Saturday at Stanford University and Menlo School, may be that new event.

The Gunn and Palo Alto football teams combined to give up 83 points on Friday night, which resulted in nonleague losses for both teams. The Titans fell to Mills, 34-7, and the Vikings were thumped by San Benito, 49-34.

It would have been perfectly understandable if the Sacred Heart football team did not know how to properly react after Friday afternoon's disappointing result. After all, it had been nearly two years since the Gators had experienced defeat on the gridiron.

Free event is Monday, Sept. 14, at Sacred Heart Prep
A panel discussion called "Navigating the Tides of Adolescence," will be held at Sacred Heart Prep on Monday, Sept. 14, 7-9 p.m. in Harman Auditorium, 150 Valparaiso Avenue, Atherton.

Finalists to be notified in February
More than 80 Palo Alto high school seniors were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists on Thursday. They are in the running with approximately 16,000 seniors nationwide for about $33 million in scholarship dollars.

City found some changes made crossing less safe
The results of a trial of roadway changes intended to make the Ravenswood Avenue railroad crossing in Menlo Park safer have shown that some of the changes may have actually made the crossing more dangerous.

House, garage and shed demolition
Three demolition jobs took place in this segment of Palo Alto building permits. They included a house, a garage and a shed. Scan the rest of the building permits to learn more about what's happening in your neighborhood.

Tips on how to replant, prepare for harvest
Let's make our gardens all they are capable of being. If we lift up the art of gardening, everyone will benefit. Children will learn that even in a drought, we can adjust how we grow our gardens and flourish. This months tips are as much about replanting as they are about getting ready for harvest.

Nature-named streets abound
From Wisteria Drive in East Palo Alto to Olive Street in Menlo Park, local streets' names speak of flowers and trees in the nature in and around the cities. Learn about this home sale and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Atherton home sells for $31 million
Atherton may have disappeared from the list last week, but it has returned in a big way  a $31 million sale. Read the rest of the real estate numbers below to see how other Palo Alto-area locations compared.

Explore permaculture, celebrate grandparents, tour kitchens and start remodels
This week includes an introduction to permaculture on Sept. 12, a day to celebrate grandparents at Gamble Garden on Sept. 13, a local kitchen tour to support the Children's Health Council on Sept. 19 and a home remodeling workshop on Sept. 23.

Palo Alto resident, 37 others will showcase chickens during Tour de Coop
Palo Alto resident Tish Hoehl, and her girls (or chickens), join 37 other chicken coop owners during this year's Tour de Coop on Saturday, Sept. 19. The coop tour spans from San Mateo to San Jose, with six coops in Palo Alto.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Sept. 14.

Midpen Media Center celebrates 25 years of community broadcasting
The Midpen Media Center, celebrating its 25th anniversary this Sunday, has come a long way since it began with one camera in a rental space on Park Boulevard.

Three-week immersive class aims to educate the next generation of student advocates
Twelve Stanford University students are this week in the midst of a three-week immersive class on campus sexual assault called "One in Five: The Law, Politics and Policy of Campus Sexual Assault," named for the oft-cited statistic on the number of women who will be sexually assaulted during college.

Autumn brings a bounty of arts and entertainment
We've sorted through hundreds of arts events to bring you some of this fall's finest arts happenings. Read on for our top picks in each genre, plus a shortlist of other productions, screenings, readings and exhibitions worth catching.

Jack Laird, '40, a former basketball player and associate director of development in the Stanford Athletic Department for 40 years, died last week. He was 98.

What better way for the second-ranked Stanford women's soccer team to celebrate a victory over a top-10 team than by playing another one? That's exactly what the Cardinal (4-0) is doing this weekend when No. 7 Penn State (3-1-1) comes to town for a Friday night match at 8 p.m., to be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.

The recent discussions surrounding the educational pressures in Palo Alto beg an important question: What does a successful student look like in our community? How do we define success in high school, and does that answer differ from how we should be defining it for our students?

Devon Cajuste and Michael Rector return to the starting lineup this weekend when Stanford hosts University of Central Florida in its home football opener on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The senior receivers will be counted upon as the Cardinal looks to get the ball into the end zone.

Ruben Amaro, Jr. won a College World Series while playing at Stanford but he couldn't get the Philadelphia Phillies back to one. Thursday, Amaro, Jr. was relieved of his duties as the team's senior vice president and general manager.

Citing concerns about mass and scale, Palo Alto panel calls for more historic analysis for 429 University Ave.
A proposal to construct a four-story building on the prominent downtown corner of University Avenue and Kipling Street suffered another setback Thursday morning when Palo Alto's Historic Resources Board concluded that the project's impacts on existing historical structures has to be re-evaluated.

This time of year usually finds Menlo School girls tennis coach Bill Shine and his team heading to Fresno for the annual California Classic. But, not this weekend. That, of course, makes Shine quite happy for at least of couple of reasons.

Eighty-three percent of Palo Alto students at or above standard in English, math
The first results from California's new standardized testing, which looks at how students meet the new Common Core State Standards, were released on Wednesday.

After losing to Canada at the Champions Cup in May on home soil, the U.S. men's national volleyball team was looking for a little revenge. The Americans found it on Thursday, beating the Canadians, 25-21, 25-20, 25-17, in a FIVB World Cup match at Hiroshima Green Arena.

Palo Alto's Planning and Transportation Commission backs grassroots move to adopt 'single-story overlay' for Eichler neighborhood
A grassroots effort in Palo Alto to ban two-story homes in Eichler neighborhoods is on the cusp of its first big victory after the city's Planning and Transportation Commission on Wednesday threw its support behind a zone change requested by residents of the Los Arboles neighborhood.

This weekend, head to downtown Mountain View for the ever-popular annual Art & Wine Festival.

They've played as teammates, and they've gone head-to-head. This weekend, the two NCGA members again will team up in representing the red, white and blue on the U.S. Walker Cup team competing in England.

Local pastry chef makes a name for himself up and down the Bay Area, from Chez TJ to b. patisserie
Menlo Park native John Shelsta is a self-made chef who hopes to one day open his own restaurant with an in-house bakery on the Peninsula.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, head to Mountain View for the popular annual Art & Wine Festival, catch the Foo Fighters at Shoreline Amphitheatre and more.

City to consider stiffer penalties, new exemptions for nascent certificate program
Simple requests didn't work. Neither did the fliers, the visits or the threats. Now, Palo Alto officials are considering new ideas for getting local companies to sign up for the city's new Business Registry.

The loss of sophomore nose tackle Harrison Phillips for the season with a knee injury will test the depth of the Stanford defensive line this weekend when the Cardinal opens its home football season against University of Central Florida on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

A third-straight Spare the Air alert has been issued for the Bay Area Thursday because of unhealthy air quality expected, air district officials said.

District has "felt the loss" in absence of dedicated spokesperson, superintendent says
The Palo Alto school board voted 3-2 on Tuesday evening to approve the creation of a full-time communications coordinator position, with the board's two newest members not convinced that the job description as is will address the district's most pressing communication needs.

Of local note
The Oakland Athletics announced a contract extension with Menlo-Atherton High grad and current A' manager Bob Melvin through the 2018 season on Wednesday.

It is rarely easy to beat the home team, but the U.S. men's national volleyball team accomplished the feat Wednesday, defeating Japan, 25-23, 21-25, 25-11, 25-14, in an FIVB World Cup match at Hiroshima Green Arena.

Of local note
The nationally No. 3-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team already has some standout freshman on its current roster, but more are headed its way next season -- including three members of the MaxPreps 2015 Preseason All-American team.

Uncertain about AT&T and Google, city to defer potential partnerships until next year
For more than 15 years, Palo Alto has been chasing a dream of bringing ultra high-speed Internet to every local household, only to watch it spark to life in places like Kansas City, Chattanooga and Austin. Last week, city officials agreed that now is the time to wait a little longer.

In launching environmental review, officials hope to placate critics on Peninsula, elsewhere
After gaining some momentum in the Central Valley, California's beleaguered high-speed rail project is now hoping for a fresh start  and a smoother journey  on the Peninsula.

Cheating rises to the top of district priorities
Grassroots school-reform campaign Save the 2,008 served as a platform at Tuesday night's school board meeting to address broader issues underlying student stress in Palo Alto, from cheating and homework quality to student voice.

Oaks report
Senior team captain Drew Nyberg earned Defensive Player of the Week honors and freshman Luis NuĆ±ez earned Offensive Player of the Week as the Menlo College men's soccer swept Golden State Athletic Conference Players of the Week honors it was learned Tuesday.

Continuing hot weather has prompted the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to call another Spare the Air alert for Wednesday, air district officials announced this afternoon.

Cooling centers open in some cities
Bay Area temperatures are expected this week to reach temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above seasonal averages, prompting some cooling centers to open in the region, according to the National Weather Service.

Cardinal corner
Stanford junior keeper Andrew Epstein was named Pac-12 Player of the Week in men's soccer for matches from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6, the conference announced Tuesday.

Cheryl Burke Dance Studio closing
Later this month, a close-knit group will bid farewell to their "home away from home." The Cheryl Burke Dance Studio in Mountain View, one of the largest ballroom-dancing venues in the Bay Area, will shut its doors permanently at the end of September.

Michael Harris, who worked as counselor and assistant basketball coach at Menlo School, was killed early Sunday morning in a boating collision off Catalina Island in Southern California. He was the son of Peter Harris, former president and CEO of the San Francisco 49ers.

After more than five years as chief executive officer at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF), Richard Slavin, M.D., announced Sept. 3 that he plans to retire in January 2016, according to a press release.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air Alert for Tuesday because of a high-pressure system producing clear skies, light winds and high inland temperatures.

Women's soccer
Jordan DiBiasi scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the 32nd minute to help lead the second-ranked Stanford women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over visiting No. 9 BYU on Monday night in a match originally scheduled for the opening weekend in Hawai'i.

Campaign aims to reduce stress, create "saner" life at Palo Alto's high schools
Close to one year after its creation, grassroots school-reform campaign Save the 2,008 will be coming before the Palo Alto school board on Tuesday for discussion.

Stanford women's rowing alums Grace Luczak and Elle Logan each medaled at the World Rowing Championships this past weekend in Aiguebelette, France.

Coaches often say the biggest improvement teams make is from Game 1 to Game 2. Stanford coach David Shaw is counting on that when the Cardinal plays host to Central Florida on Saturday night in its home opener.

The U.S. men's national volleyball team gets its first chance to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games at the FIVB World Cup this week in Japan. Team members include Stanford grads Kawika Shoji and Erik Shoji and Matt Fuerbringer, who is an assistant coach.

Cardinal corner
The fourth-ranked Stanford men's water polo team completed a sweep of its five matches in the Bruno Classic, capping the weekend with three victories on Sunday at Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center on the campus of Brown University in Providence, R.I.

Weekend prep roundup
Six seasons after the teams met in the Central Coast Section Division IV championship, the Menlo School football team defeated host Carmel, 28-21, in a season opener Saturday afternoon. Menlo held a 28-7 lead in the fourth quarter then held off a persistent Carmel team.

Soccer
U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has added Stanford forward Jordan Morris to the roster for the United States' upcoming soccer match with Brazil it was announced Sunday morning.

The U.S. Women's National Team concluded the FIVB World Cup with a 25-10, 25-19, 25-17 victory over Dominican Republic on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan, and finished with the bronze medal in the 11-match, 16-day Olympic Qualification Tournament.

Hearing set for Sept. 15 on revised plan for 2755 El Camino Real
When Palo Alto officials put the brakes on its controversial "planned-community" zoning process early last year, they also dealt a blow to the only development currently seeking this zoning designation: a four-story building proposed for the bustling intersection of Page Mill Road and El Camino Real.

All local students welcome to apply; deadline is Sept. 10
People like to use the phrase, "Only in Palo Alto." It certainly will be thrown around with the news that actor and Palo Alto native James Franco will be making a film with local high school students this year.

Toyota to invest $50 million in research into autonomous cars, intelligent robots at Stanford, MIT
Toyota Motor Corporation announced Friday that it will be investing approximately $50 million over the next five years to establish joint artificial-intelligence (AI) research centers at Stanford University and MIT.

Stanford roundup
Freshman Hayley Hodson and senior Brittany Howard combined for 31 kills, but the second-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team lost to defending national champion and top-ranked Penn State, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18, at the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge on Saturday.

The Stanford football team won't have to worry about its stay in the Top 25, not after a frustrating 16-6 loss to host Northwestern on Saturday morning in the season opener. Defensively, the Cardinal more than held its own despite featuring nine new starters. Offensively, one might expect a little more out of a unit that returned nine starters, including a fourth-year starting quarterback.

After having its six-match FIVB World Cup win streak snapped and a chance to win the tournament title for the first time, the U.S. women's National volleyball team bounced back to rally past host Japan, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-10, Saturday in Nagoya, Japan to remain in the chase for one of two 2016 Olympic Games berths.

Palo Alto and Sacred Heart Prep opened the 2015 high school football season with impressive nonleague victories on Friday night. The Vikings rolled to a 54-28 win over visiting Sequoia while the Gators thumped host Leland, 47-7.

Stanford soccer
Slater Meehan's late, first-half goal proved to be the difference in a dominant effort for the No. 16 Stanford men's soccer team and the Cardinal won its home opener, 1-0, over Northeastern at Cagan Stadium on Friday night.

Reporters, editors talk about Palo Alto news on 'Behind the Headlines'
The Palo Alto Weekly has launched a new half-hour webcast, "Behind the Headlines." Every week, the reporters and editors of the Weekly, along with newsmakers, will discuss and analyze the latest Palo Alto news.

Police are investigating an indecent-exposure incident that occurred on Friday, Sept. 4, in Palo Alto, according to a police department press release.

Cardinal corner
Merete Lutz returned from a finger injury to record a career high 19 kills and the second-ranked Stanford's women's volleyball team downed No. 6 Illinois, 16-25, 27-25, 25-18, 25-21, Friday at Rec Hall in University Park, PA as part of the Pac-12/Big 10 Challenge.

Public comment on environmental-review planning open until Sept. 14
With a whopper of an El Nino predicted for this winter, residents at a meeting on Thursday night told officials they want a new Newell Bridge to be built -- and fast.

Stanford head football coach David Shaw leads his 21st-ranked Cardinal into a season-opener for the fifth time Saturday at Northwestern and is 4-0 in lid-lifters. He said the buildup is a mixture of excitement, uncertainty and discovery.

Gunn High senior Amy Watt has been named the 2015 Female Field Athlete of the Year by U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee. Watt is one of 66 athletes selected as 2015 U.S. Paralympics Track and Field High School All-Americans.

The U.S. Women's National Team had its six-match win streak at the FIVB World Cup snapped after Russia earned a 25-17, 31-29, 25-23 victory on Friday afternoon in Nagoya, Japan, in a battle of 7-1 teams in the top two positions of the standings.

A preview of Palo Alto government meetings for the week of Sept. 7.

As Palo Alto considers next steps for 7.7-acre site, Acterra's operation hangs in the balance
Tucked away on the western edge of Foothills Park, the newest addition to Palo Alto's park system doesn't have any benches, picnic areas or walking trails to distinguish it from other parts of the scenic preserve.

Ramps for disability access are added to concrete walkways that end in dirt
In an effort to make routes to local schools safer and eliminate tripping hazards for pedestrians, some sidewalks in the Barron Park neighborhood recently received safety upgrades, including new curb ramps for wheelchairs.

Palo Alto police are looking for a man who allegedly stole a woman's cellphone out of the hand of a teenage girl who had asked to borrow it to make a call in downtown Palo Alto on Monday, according to a police department press release.

$30 million for Cowper Street home
A $30 million sale on Cowper Street in Palo Alto surpassed any other sale this week by a long, long way. Learn about this home sale and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Mountain View leads home sales
Mountain View led the way in homes sales with 18 sales. Palo Alto was not far behind with 17 sales of its own. Read the rest of the real estate numbers below to see how other Palo Alto-area locations compared.

Volunteers complete tree survey, provide results to city
Canopy staff and volunteers finish 2015's Young Tree Care Survey, and provide data to the City of Palo Alto. This year, 44 volunteers logged 230 hours and surveyed 712 trees. After the survey, city staff follow up on trees, providing tree care, such as pruning and watering.

As Pete Lavorato enters his 13th season as head coach of the Sacred Heart Prep football team, the message he conveys to his squad is simple -- continue to build a legacy at the school.

Palo Alto Police investigating link between men, series of theft in the area
An alert resident's report of two men lurking around vehicles in the Barron Park neighborhood on Wednesday led to the arrest of two San Jose men, after police allegedly found one of them in possession of stolen items.

Bret Bonanni returns for his senior season as one of the top offensive water polo players in the world, let alone at the collegiate level. He's on target to surpass Tony Azevedo's career scoring record at Stanford, which is also the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation record and, likely, the NCAA record.

Taste tomatoes, explore a park, learn from pros and build community
This week includes a Byxbee Park exploration with Ranger Rich Bicknell on Sept. 13; a tomato fest at Gamble Garden on Sept. 12; a design and building expo in San Jose on Sept. 16; and an opportunity to join Habitat for Humanity in East Palo Alto from Sept. 23-25.

A total of 11 players from the Stanford Water Polo Club were named 2015 Junior Olympic All-Americans by USA Water Polo. The Junior Olympics were held in July and August in Orange County.

Fifth-year senior cornerback Ronnie Harris will be one of nine new starters on defense when the 21st-ranked Stanford football team takes the field Saturday morning against host Northwestern at 9 a.m. (PT) in Evanston, Ill.

A mainstay for decades, Cafe Brioche continues to deliver
Cafe Brioche has been an anchor on California Avenue since 1995. The food is uncomplicated and well-prepared by chef Ricardo Molina, prices are rational, the service competent and the dining room cozy.

Channing House residents invite speakers to explore issues, choices
Planning  as much as possible  for the unknowable but inevitable circumstances at the end of life is the topic of a fall lecture series organized by residents of Channing House.

With population increasing, council members seek opportunities to expand city's park network
With Palo Alto preparing to unveil a new vision for recreation, some residents are calling for more nature, whether new neighborhood parks or enhanced pathways at existing preserves. But for many others, the more pressing issue is where to go when nature calls. New parks -- and new bathrooms at existing parks -- featured prominently in the City Council's discussion this week of the new mater plan.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, head to Menlo Park for an outdoor movie night at a pop-up park, catch Dave Matthews Band at Mountain View's Shoreline Amphitheatre and weigh in on the future of public art in Palo Alto.

A Palo Alto man who allegedly tried to swipe a duffle bag from a resident of a Middlefield Road apartment complex was arrested after a physical struggle with the victim, his neighbor and five police officers.

Incident highlights need for clarity around school-based officers' presence on campuses
Palo Alto police and school officials are looking to revise their procedures for police officers' conduct on campuses in the wake of a Jordan Middle School incident involving a student.

Caltrans is giving Californians an opportunity to earn $25,000 in exchange for submitting the most innovative idea to improve transportation and other state services.

San Jose resident charged for nearly driving his truck into officer, evading police
A truck driver who police said almost ran over an officer in Palo Alto last Thursday night before speeding away through the residential streets was arrested hours later in San Jose.

Adam Mansbach appears at Kepler's tonight
Hear the author of New York Times bestseller, "Go the F--- to Sleep," speak at Kepler's Books tonight, Thursday, Sept. 10.

The Stanford men's and women's cross country teams will open the season ranked among the nation's top 10, and each was identified as the best in the region. The Cardinal men are ranked No. 2, equaling their NCAA finish of last year, and the women are No. 7.

Bizarre crimes involved interrogating victims for computer passwords, identifying information
A Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit related to the bizarre kidnapping of a Vallejo woman in March reveals new information regarding cases he is suspected of perpetrating in Palo Alto and Mountain View.

With nine new defensive starters, there have been questions about Stanford's strength on that side of the ball heading into Saturday's season-opening football game at Northwestern.

Palo Alto officials propose changes to Transportation Element in city's Comprehensive Plan
From congested roads to inadequate parking, transportation problems have been driving most of the debates at City Hall over the past year. These issues featured prominently Monday night, when the City Council discussed an update to the city's transportation vision.

Adult mosquitoes have been found with the virus, whose symptoms can include fever, lingering fatigue
A large portion of Menlo Park will be sprayed Wednesday night and early Thursday morning after the West Nile virus was again detected in adult mosquitoes collected in the city.

Of local note
To say that Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been struggling in the second half of the Major League Baseball season might be an understatement. Heading into Tuesday's game with the visiting San Francisco Giants, the Palo Alto High grad was just 6-for-63 (.095) in his past 25 games.

Vegetation will be removed, fencing installed on the rail corridor in Palo Alto
Caltrain began removing vegetation Tuesday along the rail corridor in Palo Alto as part of a suicide prevention program approved in August.

The world's top-ranked USA women's national volleyball team won its sixth straight match at the FIVB World Cup, defeating NORCECA rival Cuba, 25-15, 25-11, 25-15, Tuesday in Okayama, Japan.

Valley Transportation Authority's bus rapid transit plans meet with concern from local officials
A proposal to create dedicated bus lanes along El Camino Real is facing a new round of skepticism. On Wednesday, representatives from cities along the corridor urged transit officials to give more thought to alternatives to its bus rapid transit plan.

At its Tuesday, Sept. 1, meeting, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors awarded $1 million in Measure A funds to Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) to close a gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail in East Palo Alto, according to a County of San Mateo Parks Department press release.

Stanford senior offensive guard Joshua Garnett has been named to the USA Today preseason All-America football team for 2015, it was announced Tuesday.

Menlo College fall sport student-athletes took time out of their training camps to give back to a community in need earlier this month. Athletes from men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball and cross country organized a two-day servant leadership project to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul San Francisco Shelter.

Stanford opposite Hayley Hodson has been tabbed the first Pac-12 Freshman of the Week of the 2015 season, as announced by Commissioner Larry Scott. Hodson helped lead the Cardinal to sweeps over Texas A&M and Minnesota at Maples Pavilion last week.

New schedule is effective Tuesday, Sept. 8
Palo Alto's library system will expand its hours of operation to provide more consistency across its five branches starting Tuesday, Sept. 8, according to a City of Palo Alto announcement.

Appointments seek to bring geographic balance to citizen committee
A citizen panel charged with helping the city update its Comprehensive Plan acquired five new members on Monday night  and will soon get an unexpected sixth. The end result? More representation for those south of Oregon Expressway.

City agrees to pursue hydrology study before restoring 7.7-acre site
What was once a quarry that few in Palo Alto knew existed is now a quandary at the center of the city's debate about future recreation needs. On Monday night, the council agreed not to make any decisions about the city's newly dedicated parkland next to Foothills Park for at least another year, pending a hydrology study.

All-American Jordan Morris scored and Andrew Epstein recorded his sixth career shutout to lead the No. 8 Stanford men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over host No. 18 Louisville on Monday night.

The beginning of the 2015 high school volleyball season will mark Dave Winn's second campaign as head coach at Mountain View. It also marks the fifth anniversary of Winn's greatest coaching achievement, guiding the Palo Alto girls to the 2010 CIF Division I state championship.

Castilleja will officially get the 2015-16 high school sports season under way when its volleyball team visits Hillsdale on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. For the Gators, there's much to improve on.

The top-ranked U.S. Women's National Team won its fifth straight match of the FIVB World Cup by defeating Argentina, 25-16, 25-19, 25-14, Monday afternoon in Okayama, Japan, and, in the process, made a step up to the top spot in the standings.

Stanford grad Stephen Piscotty made a lasting impression in his homecoming at AT&T Park over the weekend. The St. Louis rookie outfielder went 7-for-12 in three games and the Cardinals took two of three from the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants.

Cardinal corner
Behind 15 team blocks, the second-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team registered its second sweep of the season by defeating Minnesota, 25-15, 25-23, 25-18, Sunday in Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal moves to 2-0 on the season, while the Golden Gophers drop to 0-2.

Stanford grad Sarah Hopping hasn't thrown the hammer for years, though she's still competing at a high level. Fans of the National Pro Grid League are certainly aware of her multi-faceted abilities.

Flexible electronics touted as emerging field
In a bid to fortify United States security and manufacturing, the Pentagon and a consortium of partners are making a $171 million bet that Silicon Valley can emerge as the global leader in the nascent field of flexible hybrid electronics.

Oaks report
Ryan Onizuka scored on a free kick just before halftime and the Menlo College men's soccer team made it stand up as the game-winner in a physically demanding nonconference contest on Saturday at Sequoia High in Redwood City.

The USA Cadet Women's National Team capped pool play at the UANA Youth Pan American Championship, picking up victories over Brazil (16-3) and Mexico (21-7) during the weekend in Kingston, Jamaica.

The third-ranked Stanford women's soccer team delivered a dominating performance in its home debut Friday night, defeating Boston College, 4-0, in a nonconference match at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. The Cardinal men, however, weren't quite as fortunate.

Redshirt sophomore Ivana Vanjak made sure Stanford's women's volleyball team was protected in the middle as she replaced an injured Merete Lutz in Friday's season opener against Texas A&M. She did just fine, collecting eight blocks in helping the second-ranked Cardinal beat the visiting Aggies, 25-19, 25-19, 25-15.

Maddie Secco scored in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime, but the sixth-ranked Stanford field hockey team opened its season with a frustrating, 2-1, loss to visiting No. 4 Syracuse on Friday.

Stanford freshman Amir Bashti has been named to the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team roster by head coach Tab Ramos that will represent the United States at the 2015 Stevan Vilotic-Cele Tournament in Serbia.

Utility examining 1300 trees in gas line easements in Menlo Park
PG&E has begun examining 1,300 trees in Menlo Park that are growing in its gas transmission line easements and might have to be removed. Of those trees, 500 are in public right-of-ways and 800 are on private property, according to PG&E.

Police investigating if incident connected to similar one that occurred on Aug. 21
Palo Alto police are searching for a man who allegedly pulled up in a car next to two middle school students Thursday evening and made inappropriate comments while trying to get them to come closer to his car.

A roar erupted after Thursday's practice when Stanford head coach David Shaw announced that senior walk-on inside linebacker Craig Jones had received a scholarship. Jones immediately was mobbed by his teammates.

Stanford women's water polo's Maggie Steffens, already a two-time national champion with the Cardinal and the reigning ACWPC Player of the Year, has been named a finalist for the Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year award.

U.S. Postal Service officials have nixed plans to move the downtown Palo Alto post office to a building on the corner of Addison Avenue and busy Alma Street, Tom Samra, facilities vice president, said in a letter to Mayor Karen Holman dated Aug. 19.

Kitchen pails for food scraps made their way to Palo Alto residents in June, and the service collection began July 1. As residents move their compostable waste from black to green bins, they have experienced some foul moments, but have learned to adjust their habits.

Former federal attorney held post during embattled year for university
Catherine Criswell, Stanford University's Title IX coordinator and a former longtime U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights attorney, is leaving her post at the university after a little more than a year on the job, the university confirmed Thursday.

Birch Plaza is expected to open at the end of September
Birch Plaza, a 25,000-square-foot office and apartment development, at 305 Grant Ave., Palo Alto, is expected to open at the end of September.

Chestnut Street space to host outdoor movies and more
Menlo Park's latest public park will be around for only six weeks, but during that time the "pop-up park" on Chestnut Street between Santa Cruz and Menlo avenues will host a plethora of events.

Who will benefit from Palo Alto's higher minimum wage?
The regional wave toward a higher minimum wage this week swept through Palo Alto, where city officials set aside their differences and happily united behind a law setting the local rate at $11 an hour.

Palo Altan hopes to address mental health, homelessness through app
Jacob Savage, a lifelong Palo Altan who signed up as a high school sophomore for the city's first police academy in 2006, now believes there can be a better way of responding to many delicate situations -- such as mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness -- than a direct police encounter.

Big sell in Atherton
The top sale this edition happened in Atherton on Park Lane. The property was last sold in 1979 for $555,000. The most recent sale happened on July 22, 2015, and brought in more than $10 million. Learn about this home sale and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Software firm occupies second floor in Park Boulevard building
The software development firm Barefoot Networks gets ready to occupy the second floor of 2151 Park Blvd.

Residents adapt to new food-scrap collection program
Kitchen pails for food scraps made their way to Palo Alto residents in June, and the service collection began July 1. As residents move their compostable waste from black to green bins, they have experienced some foul moments, but have learned to adjust their habits.

Build community, think green, observe moths and learn about compost
This week includes East Palo Alto Children's Day in the Park on Saturday, Green Fest on Sunday and moth observations on Monday night. Then, plan ahead and attend a compost workshop brought to you by the City of Palo Alto on Sept. 5.

Defining your personal style
Is your house full of things you love that don't seem to go together? Does your home lack a pulled-together, cohesive look? When you know your personal style, you'll stop making "wrong" purchases and you'll be able to create harmony in every room of your home.

$3.7 million tops eight Palo Alto sales
Palo Alto saw eight home sales in this week's edition, with the top price coming in at $3,775,000. Read the rest of the real estate numbers below to see how other Palo Alto-area locations compared.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, catch an evening of stand-up comedy based on the book, "Take My Spouse, Please," check out Art on the Square in Redwood City and enjoy soul music and fine wine at the Oshman Family JCC.

"The Voice of the Prairie" spins spellbinding yarns
Redwood City's Dragon Theatre is currently presenting a compelling version of "The Voice of the Prairie," a play by John Olive set in the early days of radio.

Stanford senior Brandon Vincent looks at last year's Pac-12 Conference men's soccer title as a nice accomplishment, though it has nothing to do with this season, which officially begins Friday at UC Santa Barbara at 7:30 p.m.

College volleyball
Jordan Burgess, Madi Bugg and Brittany Howard have faced incredibly high expectations since joining the Stanford women's volleyball program in the fall of 2012 as three-fourths of the nation's top-ranked recruiting class. That's nothing compared to the expectations they place on themselves and each other.

Barring any unforeseen last-minute obstacles, demolition of Palo Alto High's historic main gym will begin on Wednesday. Also scheduled to be razed is the old girls' gym. Both will be replaced by the school's new $36 million athletic facility.

Commissioners support Palo Alto council's effort to keep 'second downtown' eclectic
Palo Alto's effort to promote an eclectic and independent retail mix on California Avenue by limiting chain stores in the city's "second downtown" took a big step toward reality on Wednesday night when the Planning and Transportation Commission gave the proposal its unanimous blessing.

Palo Alto High grad and outside linebacker Kevin Anderson is among six Stanford football players who have been named captain for the 2015 season, which begins Sept. 5 at Northwestern. The captains were picked by a player vote.

The U.S. women's national volleyball team, ranked No. 1 in the world by the FIVB, completed the first phase of the FIVB World Cup by dominating winless Algeria, 25-7, 25-2, 25-5, Thursday in Matsumoto, Japan.

Palo Alto veteran, engineer releases new memoir
Palo Alto resident Alan Holmes grew up in World War II Europe and fought his own personal battle against prejudice. That battle is featured in his new memoir, "A Serious and Proper Education: Misadventures at an English Boarding School."

Lawsuit seeks to prevent evictions, requires more relocation assistance
Residents of the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park have filed a lawsuit against Palo Alto, challenging the city's decision in May to allow the mobile-home park's closure and requesting that the Santa Clara County Superior Court bar the property owner from issuing eviction notices.

Victim was walking her dog
Palo Alto police are seeking the public's assistance to identify a man who allegedly exposed himself to a woman who was walking her dog in a city park on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

San Ramon man worked at Machine Zone, Inc.
A tech worker suspected of stealing trade secrets was arrested Thursday at San Francisco International Airport as he prepared to board a flight for China, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag.

The 2014 season was groundbreaking for Stanford field hockey, which set numerous program records and won its first NCAA Tournament game in school history.

Incident occurred at Town & Country Village in Palo Alto on Aug. 23
Palo Alto police arrested a man after he allegedly said he would cut a private security guard who had asked him to leave a private area of the Town & Country Shopping Center on El Camino Real on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Cardinal corner
Grant Shoults, a senior at St. Margarita Catholic who announced his verbal commitment to Stanford via his Twitter account in July, earned the silver medal in the 200 free for his second individual medal in as days at the FINA World Junior Championships in Singapore on Wednesday.

Former Stanford defender Rachel (Buehler) Van Hollebeke has announced her retirement from club and country. She is one of just five players to score for the United States as a defender in a Women's World Cup.

Initiative aims to increase engagement with Palo Alto neighborhoods
The City of Palo Alto's planned Engagement with Neighborhoods initiative took a step forward on Tuesday night after the Policy and Services Committee voted unanimously to recommend two community meetings with neighborhoods this fall.

City Council approves resolution asking FAA to address citizen concerns about new flight patterns
With citizen complaints about airplane noise on the rise, Palo Alto officials on Monday agreed to commission a study focused on recent changes in air traffic.

East Palo Alto woman charged with child abuse
An East Palo Alto woman faces child abuse charges after she brought her 11-month-old daughter to the hospital last weekend with a fractured skull and cocaine in her system, prosecutors said today.

Report reveals need for more teacher collaboration time, course alignment without sacrificing teacher autonomy or innovation
Armed with a wealth of data on consistency  or lack thereof  across courses, subjects and teachers at Palo Alto's two high schools, the school board plans to tackle this year longstanding problems like inconsistent grading practices, test and project stacking and homework quality and quantity.

The U.S. women's national volleyball team, ranked No. 1 in the world by the FIVB, converted 58.8 percent of its attacks and totaled 13 blocks in blanking Peru, 25-17, 25-15, 25-12, on Wednesday in Matsumoto, Japan, to improve to 3-1 in the FIVB World Cup.

The Menlo College men's soccer team opened the season with a 2-0 victory over host Pacific Union on Tuesday.

Cardinal corner
The Stanford men's basketball team opened its six-game exhibition tour of Italy with a 75-26 victory over Stella Azzurra Roma Tuesday in Rome. The teams played three 10-minute quarters.

Sacred Heart Prep senior midfielder Tierna Davidson of Menlo Park is among the 31 members of the United States Under-20 women's national soccer team at the National Training Center at StubHub Center in Carson through Sunday.

Pile-up occurred on Oregon Expressway during rush-hour traffic
A six-vehicle crash on Alma Street and Oregon Expressway in Palo Alto injured at least three people and snarled rush-hour traffic on Tuesday afternoon.

Palo Alto looks to put pressure on Sand Hill Property Company to replace Fresh Market
The developer of Edgewood Plaza will face a fine of $500 per day if the vacant grocery store formerly occupied by Fresh Market isn't filled by the end of September, City Manager James Keene said Monday night.

Of local note
Former Stanford NCAA champions Kori Carter and Katerina Stefanidi each saw their runs at the 2015 World Track and Field Championships come to an end on back to back days in Beijing, China.

When the Green Bay Packers lost All-Pro receiver Jordy Nelson for the season to a torn ACL during a 24-19 exhibition football loss to Pittsburgh last weekend, Palo Alto High grad Davante Adams' name suddenly jumped to the forefront as a possible replacement.

New report to guide district in goal to align courses, schools
In its first meeting of the 2015-16 school year, the Palo Alto school board will tackle a 200-plus page research report that sheds light on both similarities and disparities in curriculum, homework, grading practices and expectations at the district's two high schools.

City Council rejects proposed reforms, embarks on long road to fix "planned-community" zoning process
Palo Alto's controversial "planned-community" process, which allows developers to barter with the city over zoning exceptions, will remain suspended for what could be years as officials continue to wrestle with ways to restore public trust in what they acknowledge is a "broken" system.

Stanford roundup
Stanford football senior offensive tackle Kyle Murphy was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list, it was announced Tuesday. The 6-foot-7, 301-pounder from San Clemente was one of 34 players from around the country to be selected.

Grant Shoults, a senior at St. Margarita Catholic who announced his verbal commitment to Stanford via his Twitter account in July, became the first gold medalist of the FINA World Junior Championships, winning the 400 meter freestyle, on Tuesday at Singapore's OCBC Aquatic Centre.

City Council approves $11-an-hour wage starting in January 2016; targets $15 by 2018
Palo Alto will have a minimum wage of $11 an hour starting next year thanks to a law that the City Council unanimously passed Monday night.

Palo Alto police said man twice passed an 11-year-old girl, who then saw him acting strangely
Palo Alto police are looking for a man who was observed acting suspiciously after repeatedly driving past an 11-year-old girl on Friday afternoon.

Malaika Koshy had a pretty good junior season with her Sacred Heart Prep water polo teammates in 2014. The season began with the Gators winning their first St. Francis Invitational in eight years and ended with the SHP girls claiming their eighth straight Central Coast Section Division II championship.

Deputies arrested two people on suspicion of conspiracy and fraud Sunday morning, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

Cardinal corner
The Stanford men's water polo team is tied for third in the 2015 MPSF Preseason Coaches' Poll announced by the league on Monday morning. The Cardinal and California each received one first-place vote and totaled 65 points.

Stanford grad Foluke Akinradewo and the world's top-ranked United States women's national volleyball team rebounded from a tough loss to beat No. 3 China, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23, Monday at the FIVB World Cup in Matsumoto, Japan.

The Stanford football team was ranked 21st in the Associated Press preseason college football poll released on Sunday. It was the fifth straight AP preseason ranking for the Cardinal.

Neighbors plan to speak at City Council meeting on Monday
Fed up with the lack of a grocery store at Palo Alto's Edgewood Plaza Shopping Center, residents are mobilizing to put pressure on the City Council to fine the developer for not finding an operator to replace The Fresh Market, which pulled out on March 31.

The U.S. Women's National Team, ranked No. 1 in the world by the FIVB, was upset by Serbia on day two of the FIVB World Cup, 25-20, 22-25, 18-25, 25-19, 15-6, Sunday in Matsumoto, Japan.

Water polo
The USA Water Polo Women's Junior National Team has repeated as champion at the FINA Junior World Championships as Team USA defeated Spain, 13-10, on Sunday to cap an undefeated run to the title in Volos, Greece.

The quarterbacks spread the football around Saturday during Stanford's annual open practice at the Elliott Practice Field. Thirteen players caught at least one pass as quarterbacks Kevin Hogan (8-of-11), Keller Chryst (7-of-11) and Ryan Burns (4-of-7) combined for 274 yards on 19 completions during the scrimmage.

Stanford junior Jamie Nueshul scored twice and Cardinal sophomore Jordan Raney added a goal as the USA Women's Junior National Water Polo Team beat Russia, 13-11, Saturday to advance into the gold medal match of the FINA Women's Junior World Championship in Volos, Greece.

FIVB World Cup
Stanford grad Foluke Akinradewo scored a team-high 15 points to help the world's top-ranked U.S. women's national volleyball team open its FIVB World Cup 11-match slate with a three-set victory Saturday in Japan.

College soccer
Sophomore All-American candidate Andi Sullivan scored in the 73rd minute and freshman Alana Cook converted less than seven minutes later as the Stanford women's soccer team avoided a major upset to beat host Hawai'i, 2-1, in the season opener for both teams.

The Menlo College women's volleyball team completed it's opening weekend of play Friday, dropping a pair of matches, 25-21, 25-20, 25-12 to Great Falls and 25-20, 25-15, 25-23 to Montana Tech at the Biola Summer Slam tournament.

Track and field
Kori Carter and Ekaterini (Katerina) Stefanidi, NCAA women's track and field champions at Stanford, are competing at the IAAF World Championships, which begin Saturday (local time) at the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing, China.

Efficient, yes, but green landscapers urge a return to the rake
When it comes to the value of using a leaf blower, opinions blow in all directions. Gardeners, landscapers and maintenance professional see benefits and damages from using the mechanical tool on residential lawns and gardens.

Stanford junior Jamie Neushul scored three goals to help lead the United States women's junior national water polo team past Brazil, 12-9, Friday and into the semifinals of the FINA World Junior Championships in Volos, Greece.

Oaks report
The Menlo College women's volleyball team opened its season at the Biola Summer Slam on Thursday, dropping a pair of competitive matches to Top 25 teams.

Defending ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball champions April Ross and Stanford grad Kerri Walsh Jennings out-lasted a team from Italy to win their third-straight pool play match at the Long Beach Grand Slam on Thursday to earn a first-round "bye" when elimination bracket play begins Friday on the TrueCar Court at Alamitos Beach.

Stanford grads Kawika Shoji and Erik Shoji were each named to the U.S. men's national volleyball team preliminary roster for the FIVB World Cup on Thursday.

Portola Valley resident Maverick McNealy's quest to become the third player in Stanford history to capture the United States Amateur Championship came to an end Thursday afternoon at breezy Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois. The Cardinal junior fell to American Walker Cup teammate Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis in the Round of 16, 3 and 2.

Don't be fooled, the Palo Alto Way sale happened in Menlo Park
Among Menlo Park's 19 home sales this edition, one happened along Palo Alto Way, which surprisingly is not in Palo Alto. Learn about this home sale and others in this week's list of recent home sales.

Palo Alto school board member hopes to quell concerns about his involvement with Office for Civil Rights
Seeking to put to rest years of questions about his relationship with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the agency's involvement in the Palo Alto school district, school board member Ken Dauber wrote last week to the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for formal written advice on whether he has a conflict of interest on school board matters related to the federal agency.

Palo Alto officials prepare to vote on reforms to the 'planned community' process
After more than a year of hibernation, Palo Alto's most controversial zoning process is preparing to roar back to life. The City Council will consider on Monday proposed reforms to the city's controversial "planned community" (PC) zoning process, which allows developers to barter with the city over zoning regulations.

Residents add roof-mounted PV systems
Residents continue to add solar panels to their roofs, with eight roof-mounted PV systems making the building permit list. The solar option is even available to those with already low energy bills.

Two decades later, first students reflect on how the Palo Alto elementary school program changed their lives
Palo Alto Unified School District's Spanish immersion program, which has been housed at Escondido Elementary School since the late 1990s, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this weekend. Students and families from the earliest cohorts of the program are returning from elsewhere in the state and country to attend the celebration, a testament to the deep impact and close ties the immersion program produced.

Sip tea, cook summer meals, compost at home and maintain a landscape during a drought
Find local news and events related to real estate, interior design, home improvement and gardening. This week includes afternoon tea at Filoli, cooking classes at Sur La Table, backyard composting workshop at Hidden Villa and drought landscape maintenance information from the City of Palo Alto.

A cultural awakening
This past summer I had the incredible opportunity to visit Italy  Tuscany and Sicily. My wife and I had been planning to go for years, and it was the trip of a lifetime. We were in two distinctly different parts of Italy, but we noticed several things they have in common, especially from the perspective of "verdi," which means green in Italian.

Four sales each for Atherton, East Palo Alto and Los Altos
Atherton, East Palo Alto and Los Altos each recorded four sales this edition. Read the rest of the real estate numbers below to see how other Palo Alto Weekly locations compared.

Artist develops happiness map of Palo Alto
Oakland-based artist Kate Pocrass is working with the Palo Alto Art Center to create a visual representation of the places and spaces city residents most love.

Pentatonix, Kelly Clarkson come to Shoreline
A cappella group Pentatonix joins one of its idols, Kelly Clarkson, at Mountain View's Shoreline Amphitheatre this Sunday, Aug. 23.

Police department cites low incidence over last decade, but commissioners wonder about reporting rates, outreach
In the wake of last month's hate crime incident where a Latino teenager was stabbed downtown after being called racial slurs, the City of Palo Alto's Human Relations commission held a discussion on local hate crimes with a representative from the Palo Alto Police Department, who provided statistics and information about available resources.

This week's A&E highlights
This week, catch author David Shields discussing his latest book, check out art made from wire mesh at a Ladera coffee shop and more.

Efficient, yes, but green landscapers urge a return to the rake
When it comes to the value of using a leaf blower, opinions blow in all directions. Gardeners, landscapers and maintenance professional see benefits and damages from using the mechanical tool on residential lawns and gardens.

Research shows health risks in air pollution caused by leaf blowers, but industry disputes implications
Blasting air at up to 185 mph, leaf blowers can whip up hazardous particles and contaminants from the ground at speeds greater than a Category 5 hurricane, sending them long distances. Epidemiological studies have long recognized the harm these particles cause to people's respiratory systems, according to Bay Area Air Quality Management District reports.

A mainstay for decades, Cafe Brioche continues to deliver
Cafe Brioche has been an anchor on California Avenue since 1995. The food is uncomplicated and well-prepared by chef Ricardo Molina, prices are rational, the service competent and the dining room cozy.

Kevin Anderson has made 84 tackles as a member of the Stanford football team, 20 of those were for a loss, including nine sacks. He's also credited with nine quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. There's also that interception he returned 40 yards for a touchdown in the 2013 Rose Bowl.

This week's arts news
The director of Stanford Live departs for Santa Monica, classes in digital artmaking for teens offered at Mitchell Park, and more.

Stanford fifth-year senior Haley Rosen experienced the best and worst of women's soccer through her first four years in the program, from watching her teammates win a national championship to seeing her season end prematurely because of an injury.

Gas-powered leaf blowers are banned from neighborhoods  so why are they being used everywhere?
Enforcement of Palo Alto's 10-year-old leaf blower ordinance is at an all-time low. Despite 113 complaints in the first six months of this year, the police department has issued no citations or warnings.

34th Palo Alto Festival of the Arts hosts 300 artists
The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts will once again turn University Avenue into an open air gallery, showcasing masterpieces from 300 fine-art and fine-craft artists. The 34th annual festival will be held this weekend, Aug. 22 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Palo Alto is plagued by a disproportionate level of aircraft noise severely diminishing our quality of life.

Menlo School will have two new coaches, both familiar faces around campus, taking over varsity teams for the 2015-2016 season. Ross Ireland will direct girls soccer and Tom Hitchcock will lead boys golf.

Vocal groups from tech firms to belt 'em out at Menlo College
Menlo College will cap its free summer concert series on Friday, Aug. 21, when vocal groups from Facebook, Google, Pinterest, Dropbox and Twitter appear at an a cappella night.

The only thing stopping the United States women's national soccer team Wednesday night in Chattanooga was a lightning storm that delayed its 7-2 victory over Costa Rica for 83 minutes.

Palo Alto man arrested for prowling, being under the influence of a narcotic
A Palo Alto man was arrested Wednesday after a quick-thinking neighbor notified police when she saw him climbing into the backyard of a Melville Avenue home, police said.

Suspect remains at large
Palo Alto police are looking for a man who they said grabbed the buttocks of a woman walking in downtown and then fled on a bicycle Monday evening.

City Council to consider plan to set local rate at $11 per hour, with a view toward $15 in 2018
Palo Alto is a relative latecomer when it comes to establishing a minimum wage, but a new proposal that the City Council is set to discuss Monday, Aug. 24, looks to place the city ahead of the regional pack.

A century-old statue was vandalized at Stanford University earlier this month.

Stanford junior Maverick McNealy was regarded as the best male golfer in college this past season after being honored with both the Jack Nicklaus Award and Haskins Award as the NCAA Player of the Year. At the U.S. Amateur, however, he's just one of the guys.

Volleyball
Stanford grad Kerri Walsh Jennings and teammate April Ross posted a 2-0 record on the first day of the third annual $800,000 ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball in Long Beach, which featured 11 undefeated teams for eight countries after two rounds of pool play at Alamitos Beach.

The Stanford women's field hockey team was picked to win the West Division of the America East Conference in the annual preseason coaches poll, as announced by the organization Wednesday.

Water polo
Stanford's Jamie Neushul scored the winning goal with 15 seconds left to play to carry the USA Women's Junior National Team to a thrilling 17-16 victory over Spain at the FINA Junior World Championships on Wednesday in Volos, Greece.

34th Palo Alto Festival of the Arts hosts 300 artists
The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts will once again turn University Avenue into an open air gallery, showcasing masterpieces from 300 fine-art and fine-craft artists. The 34th annual festival will be held this weekend, Aug. 22 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Of local note
Stanford junior Maverick McNealy bounced back from a so-so first round and rallied to make the cut at the U.S. Amateur Championship on Tuesday at Olympic Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill.

The San Francisco 49ers threw Stanford grad Shayne Skov right into the fire in the team's first preseason game against the Houston Texans. The second-year linebacker played 66 defensive snaps and nine plays on special teams.

James Witt chased off dog after hearing Perry and Niner scream
The owner of the donkey pasture where Palo Alto's two beloved donkeys reside defended the animals on Monday night by shooing off a harassing dog while carrying a BB rifle, according to Palo Alto police.

Data show most commuters come from South Bay and Peninsula while San Franciscans prefer Caltrain
They drive alone and show up in droves -- that much is clear. But who are downtown's non-carpooling commuters and where do they come from? Palo Alto finally has some answers.

Animal control official warns Palo Alto residents to keep small pets indoors at night
A series of cat maulings in Palo Alto this summer has raised concerns among some residents and has prompted a warning to keep small pets indoors at night.

City Council vote frees up $14.5 million to preserve city's only mobile-home park
After making a pledge in June to contribute $14.5 million toward the preservation of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park, the City Council on Monday changed its guidelines for affordable-housing fees to make the funds available for the park's purchase.